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.

Guyana receives equipment to support EU FLEGT programme implementation

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), in collaboration with the European Union, officially received a range of equipment on Wednesday, including vehicles and IT items, as part of the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme.
The acquisition of these items is a significant step towards implementing activities under the European Union Voluntary Partnership Agreement (EU FLEGT VPA), which Guyana signed with the EU in 2022. This partnership aims to strengthen forest governance and promote sustainable forestry practices in the country.

The GFC, alongside the FLEGT Secretariat, is tasked with executing the implementation process. This includes collaborating with forest sector operators and other government agencies to ensure compliance with the legality definition outlined in the agreement. The ultimate goal is to prepare for the issuance of FLEGT licences by 2026, or as soon as feasible.

The receipt of this equipment marks an important milestone in Guyana’s efforts to enhance its forestry sector and align with international standards for sustainable resource management.

Source: Guyana Chronicle

Data-Driven Compliance: GFC Officers Receive Training from the FLEGT Secretariat, DAI Global and the EU in Advanced Forestry Analysis

The FLEGT Secretariat, with the support of DAI Global Inc and financed by the European Union, hosted a three-day training on Data Analysis Techniques for Forestry Compliance from February 26 to 28 at the GFC Multiplex. Led by Dr. Haimwant Persaud, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Sustainable Forest Management Expert, 14 Forestry Officers attended the training from the Forest Monitoring Division (FMD), Forest Resource Management (FRM) Division, the FLEGT Secretariat, and the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Unit.

Dr. Haimwant Persaud facilitating the Data Analysis Techniques Training.

The training focused on enhancing data-driven decision-making for forestry compliance, with participants learning how to:

  1. Understand the role of data analysis in detecting non-compliance and improving regulatory enforcement.
  2. Apply statistical techniques and data manipulation methods to analyze forestry data effectively.
  3. Detect outliers and anomalies using GFC data to identify suspicious activities.
  4. Leverage time series analysis to track forestry trends over time.
  5. Utilize visualization tools such as charts, graphs, and pivot tables to highlight inconsistencies.
  6. Implement standardized data analysis procedures for consistent compliance verification.
  7. Develop action plans and response strategies for detected anomalies.
  8. Work collaboratively with field staff to strengthen compliance monitoring efforts.
  9. Automate compliance reporting using Excel templates for more efficient data verification.

By the workshop’s close, participants were equipped with the practical tools and procedures necessary to conduct routine compliance assessments and respond swiftly to irregularities, supporting sustainable and transparent forest governance.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana Forestry Commission, European Union and IICA support the “FLEGT joint implementation framework”

Guyana is the first South American country to implement the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The VPA implementation is ongoing with the expectation for the first license to be issued in 2026. The European Union (EU) has committed to providing funds to assist with the VPA implementation.

Forests cover approximately 87% of Guyana’s land area, making it one of the most forested countries in the world. Guyana’s forests are globally recognized as extremely valuable reservoirs of biodiversity and provide a broad range of services that are not limited to but include timber production and environmental services.

A high proportion of the forests (roughly 45%) of Guyana is primary forest, and the vast forest area comprises an important stock of carbon. While about half of the country’s forests are used for timber extraction, forests fulfil multiple land-use functions and are an essential part of the national patrimony.

The VPA on FLEGT entered into force between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the European Union (EU) in June 2023 as the mechanism to reduce illegal logging, improve governance, and promote trade in legally produced timber.

To move forward on the implementation of the VPA, the current Action is defined by the EU to support the Guyana Forestry Commission and the forest stakeholders to implement the necessary regulatory changes, system audits and joint evaluation, and achieve the FLEGT license system. The Action will be implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

The Action will have an implementation period of 3 years and a contribution of 2 million euros from the EU and will be closely aligned with other EU-funded programmes such as “Support for the implementation of the FLEGT VPAs”, implemented by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), “Sustainable forest livelihoods for communities of Guyana and Suriname” for the period 2023-2027 also implemented by AFD, and with the Forest Partnership “Forest Governance and Value Chain” programme.

Outcomes for guidance:

  1. Improved compliance of Guyana forest sector governance system with the EU Forest Law on Governance and Trade (FLEGT) requirements, including to operationalize the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS).
  2. Strengthened participation and improved compliance of stakeholders in the VPA-process, and in the implementation of sustainable forest management practices.
  3. Enhanced information exchange for FLEGT compliance between EU and Guyana partners and ensure the long-term sustainability of the FLEGT VPA

Some of the benefits of the VPA for the Guyanese forest sector include:

  1. Improved forest governance
  2. Reduced illegal logging
  3. Increased market access
  4. Facilitate compliance of the private sector with the upcoming national certification standard
  5. Increased incentives for sustainable forest management
  6. Capacity building
  7. Improved livelihoods
  8. Enhanced global climate action

The funding is being provided through a contribution agreement signed between the EU Guyana Office and IICA.

The agreement was signed in Georgetown by the Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Rene Van Nes, and the IICA Representative in Guyana, Wilmot Garnett.

In witness were Hon. Vickram Bharrat, Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources; the Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, Joan Nadal Sastre, representatives from the Guyana Forestry Commission; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mr. Joslyn McKenzie.

Source: IICA

Guyana – EU FLEGT VPA Successfully Tabled in Parliament

Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Vickram Bharrat, successfully tabled in the National Assembly, on Monday, April 24, the Guyana-EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement or VPA. This will pave the way for greater cooperation and increase market access and market share with the European Union (EU).

This agreement was initialled in  2018 in Brussels. The VPA was then signed in December 2022 in Montreal, Canada, by Minister Vickram Bharrat, and finally ratified on Monday.

In November 2022, the Natural Resources Minister at COP27 in Egypt signed a Forest Partnership Agreement with the EU for €5 million to support sustainable livelihood in forest-based communities. The agreement was formally handed to H.E. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali in March of this year. Guyana is the first country to sign both the VPA and a Forest Partnership Agreement.

In 2012, a stakeholder-supported policy decision was taken by the Government of Guyana to enter into formal negotiations with the EU on developing a VPA. The terms of the VPA were negotiated through a collaborative process between Guyana and the EU, where both parties shared the goal of fostering good forest governance and addressing illegality.

The VPA aims to support governance reform and strengthen enforcement activities in Guyana with commitments to improve transparency, accountability, legislative clarity, and other aspects of governance.

When a nation becomes a VPA Partner Country, it can issue FLEGT licenses to its exporters under national FLEGT Licensing Schemes based on a Legality Assurance System (LAS) for agreed timber products destined for the EU. This system, which is rolled out at the national level, ensures that only legally produced timber products are exported to the EU.

To begin issuing  FLEGT licenses as required by the VPA,  Guyana is building on existing national initiatives like its Wood Tracking System (WTS) to develop a robust timber legality assurance, also known as the Guyana Timber Legality System (GTLAS).

Guyana also has a series of VPA Annexes, which describe the practical components for implementing the core commitments in the VPA in detail. Annexes provide information on the country’s laws that Guyana will use to monitor the agreement, timber products covered under the agreement, and other requirements.

It will also guarantee new donor revenue streams to support the implementation phase. However, local VPA ministries/ agencies must also budget annually to ensure that any gaps in their internal systems are identified and rectified.

The other VPA countries are the Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Laos, Liberia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Republic of Congo and Vietnam.

Source: The Guyana Forestry Commission

Council adopts agreement with Guyana to tackle illegal logging

The Council has adopted an agreement to improve forest governance and help combat illegal logging in Guyana. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), which the EU and Guyana signed in Montreal on 15 December 2022, aims to strengthen law enforcement in the forestry sector and ensure that timber products exported to the EU have been legally produced.

The agreement with Guyana came about as a result of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan, which the EU adopted in 2003 to tackle deforestation and trade in illegal timber. One of Guyana’s commitments under the VPA is to develop a timber legality assurance system to assess timber products and issue FLEGT licences attesting that they have been produced in line with national laws.

Guyana is the first country in the Amazon region to sign a VPA with the EU. Forests cover 84% of the country’s territory and play a key role in its economy, not only in the timber trade but also in areas such as tourism and ecosystem services. Maintaining Guyana’s forests also contributes to the EU’s wider goals of combatting climate change and preserving biodiversity.

Next steps

The Council’s adoption of the VPA completes the ratification process for the EU. The agreement will enter into force once both parties have notified each other that they have completed their respective ratification processes.

Background

In 2003, the EU adopted the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan. The aim of the plan was to address illegal logging and trade in associated products by:

  • strengthening sustainable and legal forest management
  • improving governance in the forestry sector
  • promoting trade in legally produced timber

In December 2005, the Council gave the Commission a mandate to negotiate Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with countries that export timber to the EU. It also adopted Regulation 2173/2005 establishing a FLEGT licencing scheme to ensure that timber imports from these countries were legally produced.

So far, the EU has concluded eight VPAs with timber-producing countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Liberia, the Republic of Congo and Vietnam). The VPA with Côte d’Ivoire has recently been initialled and negotiations are ongoing with five other countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand).

The negotiations between the EU and Guyana lasted for nearly four years and were successfully concluded with the initialling of the agreement on 23 November 2018. The Council adopted the Decision on the signing of the VPA with Guyana on 13 October 2022. The final signing of the agreement took place at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) in Montreal on 15 December 2022. The EU was represented by the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, and the Czech Deputy Minister of the Environment, Jan Dusík. Vickram Bharrat, Minister for Natural Resources, signed the agreement on behalf of Guyana.

Source: Council of the EU

COP 15: the EU and Guyana sign an agreement on sustainable trade of legal timber

Today at COP 15 in Montreal, Canada, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Mr. Virginijus Sinkevičius, and Guyana Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Vickram Bharrat M.P., signed a legally binding trade agreement to promote sustainable trade of legal timber to the European Union (EU). Mr. Jan Dusík, Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic, EU presidency of the Council, co-signed the agreement. The agreement will give EU-based timber buyers assurance that timber products from Guyana are legal. It will help improve forest governance, further curb illegal logging and promote trade in verified legal timber products. This cooperation takes place in the context of the EU Global Gateway strategy which stands for sustainable and trusted connections. Global Gateway is tackling the most pressing global challenges, including fighting climate change and supporting the security of global supply chains.

Through the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, Guyana will have to improve market access to EU businesses, as well as modernise its forestry sector, create jobs, promote sustainable development, and protect the rights of indigenous peoples.

Under the VPA, Guyana commits to developing a timber legality assurance system to assess that timber products -for all stages of the supply chain- have been produced in accordance with national legislation. When this system is operational, Guyana can issue verified legal timber products with FLEGT licences.

Guyana is the first country in the Amazon region to sign a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on forest law enforcement, governance, and trade (FLEGT) with the European Union.

With the signing of this agreement, Guyana and the EU each needed to ratify the VPA, according to their respective procedures. Forest stakeholders as the private sector, indigenous peoples, local communities, and civil society, have all been closely involved in the negotiation of the agreement, alongside the Government and EU representatives. They will continue to play a key role throughout the implementation phase.

This bilateral agreement will advance the integrated planning and management of Guyana’s forest sector under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

Background
The signature marks the end of a 10-year negotiation process. It consolidates Guyana’s position as a frontrunner in the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of forests. Under the EU Global Gateway Strategy, Guyana is also one of the first five countries worldwide that signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a Forest Partnership with the EU at COP 27 a month ago.

Guyana has already robust national legislation on forests, including a Forest Code, and the VPA will ensure this is duly enforced, guaranteeing the sustainable management of the country’s enormous forest area and thus protecting biodiversity. It will also help to improve the competitiveness of Guyana’s timber industry by modernising timber operations. This, in turn, will create jobs and ensure that forestry brings employment to the formal economy while expanding trade opportunities as Guyana moves to export guaranteed legal timber products.

Guyana is the second country in Latin America to sign a VPA with the EU under the FLEGT Action Plan, following Honduras.

Quotes
“We are thrilled to have reached this agreement with Guyana,” said Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen. “After the forest Partnership signed at COP 27, this VPA provides an opportunity for the EU and Guyana to keep on building on our long-standing partnership to further cooperate in the area of environment and forests. Forests are our allies in fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity, and local communities benefit from sustainable forest management. I am confident that this agreement will also lead to a positive impact on the Guyanese population, including indigenous peoples.”

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius added: “This VPA is yet another positive development in fighting illegal logging, as the world meets in Montreal to agree on ambitious new targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Earlier this month, the EU agreed on the world’s-first law to fight global deforestation and forest degradation driven by EU production and consumption. The new law will integrate and improve the existing system to control timber legality, going beyond legality and addressing several other crucial commodities beyond wood. We will work with Guyana and all other partner countries to help them reap the economic opportunities of this new law for deforestation-free producers across the globe.”

“Guyana has one of the oldest, most diverse, and largest tropical ecosystems worldwide that houses an array of diverse flora and fauna. Our forests are home to more than 9 000 species and it is crucial that we preserve such wildlife”, said the Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat. “Forests in Guyana are also a net carbon sink and have a major role to play in the world to mitigate climate change. They cover nearly 80% of our land and through sustainable forest management, we can ensure they can continue to be home to our rich biodiversity, help us strengthen the economy, and improve people’s livelihoods. This deal with the EU will boost the trade in legal timber, which will stimulate the creation of green jobs while protecting the precious environment we have. This bilateral agreement will advance the integrated planning and management of Guyana’s forest sector under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.”

“This Agreement constitutes a significant contribution to the conservation of Guyana’s forests, which is essential for both protecting the biodiversity and fight against climate change. Guyana and the European Union already work together very closely, and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement will strengthen our cooperation and also stimulate good governance and sustainable forest management”, says Jan Dusík, Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic and Special Envoy of the Czech Government, on behalf of Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Download the VPA Between Guyana and the EU on FLEGT in Timber Products to the EU.

Related links
Guyana Forestry Commission
Guyana FLEGT VPA website
FLEGT VPA Facility: Guyana country page
COP27: EU launches Forest Partnerships (europa.eu)
Statement by the President: Signature of Forest Partnerships (europa.eu)
Global Gateway

Source: Guyana Forestry Commission

Guyana and EU join forces to meet highest international standards on export of legal timber

On 27 October 2022, representatives of Guyana and the European Union met to discuss the implementation of their Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The Agreement will help improve forest governance and sustainable forestry, and verify the trade in legal timber.

According to René Van Nes, Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, “the VPA spearheads Guyana as a global pioneer of sustainable forest management.”

During the meeting, the Parties indicated they will endeavour to sign the Agreement before the end of 2022. The VPA will raise industry standards and living conditions of the sector. After Guyana and the EU sign and ratify the VPA, its commitments will become legally binding. The Parties intend to give high international visibility to such an important milestone, noting the groundbreaking and innovative nature of the Agreement.

The signature and subsequent ratification will mark the end of a 10-year negotiation process. Guyana will thereupon join a selected group of Asian, African and American countries committed to the protection of their forests. Guyana will become the first VPA country in the Amazon region, and the second in the Americas, after Honduras; making it a frontrunner in sustainable forest management, adhering to the highest international standards.

Through the VPA’s implementation, Guyana will further strengthen the sustainable use of its forest resources, reduce illegal timber trade and better modernise timber operations, thereby ensuring that forestry brings green jobs in the formal economy. The VPA also includes commitments to improve transparency, accountability, legislative clarity and other aspects of governance.

The Honorable Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Vickram Bharat, stated that “the Pre-JMRC meetings continue to highlight Guyana’s continued commitment to the VPA process and the broader initiatives to improve forest governance. He further stated that the VPA and the agreements reached are all part of the Government’s commitment under the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 aimed at promoting a green economy”.

Good governance of Guyana’s forests is crucial to sustainable development. Moreover, it helps both Guyana and the EU contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including by mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity.

The Parties agreed to focus their efforts on the further development and implementation of strengthened operational procedures for the sector, and a robust paper-based and digital traceability system of logs and timber that meets the VPA’s requirements. To ensure these priorities will be met in time, Guyana and the EU agreed on a detailed work plan.

The Parties also discussed how they will continue to engage with national and international stakeholders interested in VPA implementation. They committed to putting in place a range of tools to ensure that interested audiences can follow the developments and impacts of VPA implementation.

Representatives of the private sector and civil society, including indigenous peoples’ organisations, presented the issues they would like to bring to the table. Guyana and the EU also discussed next steps in the development of an approach to protect the traditional rights of Amerindian peoples.

The next meeting of the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee, which reviews progress of the implementation of the Guyana-EU FLEGT VPA, is scheduled to take place in May 2023.

Guyana Forestry Commission and Partners Begin Countrywide Compliance Outreach

Forest sector operators across Guyana will benefit from multiple awareness and capacity-building activities between June and September 2022. The Guyana Forestry Commission will lead this initiative by hosting sixteen awareness-raising sessions on the forestry sector’s legal compliance requirements and providing bookkeeping and record-keeping skills training with the support of its partners.

Under the theme ‘Improving Compliance within the Guyana Timber Legality Framework’, these sessions focus on enhancing voluntary compliance by providing key forest operators with guidance on the main compliance requirements. These include the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Labour, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.

The first session of the 2022 stakeholder outreach in Parika.

Guyana is implementing the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS), which expands on the country’s current Wood Tracking System and is based on the country’s existing legal framework. The GTLAS is central to Guyana’s efforts to guarantee the legality of its timber products and ensure they meet national and international obligations and requirements. Market access to the European Union and other global markets will improve when the country’s forest operators meet these conditions.

Partners for the outreach include the Ministry of Natural Resources (MONR), the Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, the European Forest Institute Technical Assistance Project (EFITAP), the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland acting through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Facilitator and Forest Governance Facilitator.

To learn more about this event and how to participate, visit www.euflegt.gov.gy, www.forestry.gov.gy or the Guyana-EU FLEGT VPA Facebook and Instagram pages. You can also contact the FLEGT Secretariat at 592-226-7247 or 223-5135 or email euflegtguyana@gmail.com.

Media Contact:

Tanika Jones
Communications and Outreach Expert
European Forest Institute Technical Assistance Project (EFITAP)
Guyana Forestry Commission Annex
17 Access Road, Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana
Telephone: +592-503-1830
Email: efitapguyana@gmail.com

Guyana-EU Agree on Roadmap to Improve Forest Governance, Reduce Illegal Timber Trade

Guyana and the European Union (EU) on Thursday, agreed on a detailed roadmap for implementing the Guyana-EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), which aims to improve forest governance and verify the trade in legal timber.

The aide-mémoire was signed by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and EU Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency, Fernando Ponz Cantó, at the Pegasus hotel after a meeting with the various stakeholders.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, M.P and Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó sign the agreement.

“In no way the FLEGT VPA or the Low Carbon Development Strategy, that is in the consultative process right now is speaking towards reduction in forest activities, reduction in harvesting or the production of wood products, what it speaks to directly is the sustainability of it, how inclusive the process is and also, and importantly how legal, the operation and the products are,” Minister Bharrat said.

He made it clear that the agreement in no way means that the country is “cutting down” on forest activities, but ensuring that it is done in a sustainable, legal manner.

He noted that Guyana has one of the best forest management systems in the world.

“We are way above in terms of the management, in terms of sustainability and eradicating illegal logging,” Minister Bharrat noted.

The Minister said the government has been successful in tackling illegal logging, making more resources available to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).

The administration has also taken steps to curb illegal mining, allocating more than 100 small concessions to small loggers and their associations in Regions One and Ten, and monitoring activities. 

Meanwhile, the EU Ambassador noted that the concerns raised about the forestry regulation are currently being discussed in Europe.

“In any case we are aware that Guyana is in a situation where it has preserved its forest, I have to congratulate you for that,” he said.    

He noted that it is timely to have the FLEGT VPA continue to preserve the forest.

“The FLEGT VPA is going to be a formidable tool for ultimately helping Guyana and helping all of you to preserve the forest, but also to use it for the benefit of your communities, for the benefit of Guyanese in a way that it is inclusive, that it is sustainable and in a way that the forest continues to be this treasure that you have, but also provides for the current and for the future generations,” EU Ambassador said.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the establishment of the Guyana-EU VPA Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (JMRC), which will oversee the implementation of the agreement and includes representatives of all stakeholder groups.

Guyana is committed to making funds available to support the implementation of the VPA. Additional financial support is provided by the EU, Norway, and the UK.

The next meeting of the parties is expected before the end of 2022.

The VPA negotiations began in December 2012. They involved the private sector, government ministries and agencies, and indigenous peoples.

Source: Guyana Forestry Commission