USAID commits US$1.6M to forestry sector

The U.S. government through USAID has committed US$1.6 million to promote best practices in the local forestry sector over the next eight years.

This announcement was made by acting USAID Mission Director Eric Kite on Monday at a handing over ceremony of the Guyana Legality Assurance System on Forestry report held at the Agriculture Ministry.

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt presented a review of the report to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud. The report compiled with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provides Guyana with a better legal support system, compliant with international standard, Hardt said.

“This assessment compliments a range of support that we’ve provided to the forestry sector, we have helped to build the Guyana Forestry Commission’s staff capacity on geographic information systems and remote censoring,” Hardt stated. In addition to the work done in the forestry sector, USAID has moved to place a specialist to work with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) for one year. The specialist will help to build the skills at GFC, improve the in-house capacity and strengthen forest studies.

Hardt noted that the U.S. government has recognised Guyana’s natural resources and sees it as an emerging sector, with increasing importance. “This is in particular in light of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and its REDD+ initiative” he stressed, pointing out that sound forestry management is indispensable to the sector.

Recognising this, the U.S. government through USAID has supported the forestry commission and other sectors, including non- traditional agriculture, aquaculture and eco- tourism.

The U.S. has also worked to expand on Guyana’s wood products development project.

Hardt said the review of Guyana’s legality assurance system, is the latest reflection of the U.S. trade and investment support to Guyana. The U.S. has also facilitated Guyana’s participation in several wood products trade fairs which have helped to establish key linkages to international markets.

Meanwhile, Minister Persaud commended the support given to Guyana by the U.S. He said the assistance is invaluable, especially in the context of the LCDS and meeting export market standards.

“Buyers today are very choosy and they want to ensure that the best forestry practices and systems are in place. So this will certainly aid our efforts in terms of developing a competitive forestry sector” Persaud said.

Government, he said, looks forward to the continued support from the U.S. government to the local forestry sector. The assistance, Persaud stated, will allow Guyana to be a model for other countries, noting that without the U.S. support, the challenges would have been more difficult.

The agriculture minister also pointed out that in recent times, Guyana has been receiving positive reviews from consumers of local forestry products.

The minister was hopeful that with the new U.S. ambassador, Guyana will receive more support to not only expand the local forestry sector, but other agriculture activities in Guyana.