Guyana, EU sign Aide Mémoire at 4th JMRC Meeting of the FLEGT VPA and 3rd Political Meeting of the Forest Partnership
The Government of Guyana and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable forest management and legal timber trade today, April 4, by signing an Aide Mémoire during the fourth Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (JMRC) Meeting of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and the third Political Meeting of the Forest Partnership. The event, which took place at Duke Lodge in Georgetown, was co-chaired by the Hon. Vickram Bharrat, M.P., Minister of Natural Resources, and Ambassador René van Nes, Head of the EU Delegation to Guyana.
The meeting signifies the strong ongoing political engagement between Guyana and the EU to ensure Guyana’s forests are managed sustainably, benefiting the environment and local communities.
Both parties officially adopted the JMRC’s Rules of Procedure and the Working Procedures of Arbitration. The JMRC plays a pivotal role in overseeing the VPA’s implementation, ensuring that Guyana’s timber products meet the legality standards required for access to the EU market. The committee is responsible for facilitating information exchange between Guyana and the EU, monitoring the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System’s (GTLAS) progress, and addressing any issues related to implementing the FLEGT licensing scheme—the system used by the EU to ensure the export of legal timber and timber products.
Additionally, the conclusions of the 3rd Political Working Group of the Forest Partnership were signed with the endorsement of the first Forest Partnership Progress Report, covering 2023-2024, reflecting the ongoing political commitment to the Forest Partnership objectives.
Highlighting the EU’s support, Ambassador van Nes said, “The rewards of this commitment far outweigh the difficulties. By fully embracing FLEGT, Guyana will secure better market access, attract responsible investment, and solidify its reputation as a global leader in sustainable forest management. The European Union remains a steadfast partner in this process.”
Guyana is the first South American country to implement the FLEGT VPA, with the first FLEGT license aimed for issuance by the end of 2026. Guyana and the EU negotiated the terms of the VPA through a collaborative process, beginning in December 2012. The first JMRC was convened on June 29, 2023, following Guyana and the EU’s signing of the agreement in December 2022 and the VPA’s ratification in Guyana’s parliament in April 2023.
The Forest Partnership Memorandum of Understanding, signed in November 2022, outlines targets for sustainable forest management and conservation by 2030.
Together, the Forest Partnership and the FLEGT VPA aim to strengthen Guyana’s forest bio-economy, encourage public and private investments, and support climate and biodiversity goals while upholding the rights of local communities and Indigenous peoples.
