Digital Transformation of Guyana’s Forestry Sector Takes Shape under the EU FLEGT VPA with IICA Guyana’s Support

Georgetown, Guyana | November 2025  – The European Union (EU), through the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Guyana, and in collaboration with the FLEGT Secretariat of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), has launched a consultancy to develop an Investment Plan for IT Systems and Databases.

The initiative is part of IICA’s ongoing technical assistance program to strengthen forest governance and promote sustainable forest management in Guyana, under the Guyana-EU FLEGT VPA. Within this framework, enhancing IT systems and databases has been identified as a priority to improve information management, enhance transparency and operational efficiency, and support evidence-based decision-making.

IICA’s implementation of this initiative with the GFC and the FLEGT Secretariat represents a strategic step toward building an integrated and modernised IT infrastructure for the commission. The resulting IT and Database Investment Plan will guide future investments in hardware, software, cybersecurity, and data management, improving operational efficiency and transparency in forest monitoring, reporting, and compliance under the VPA.

“This initiative will help create the digital foundation needed to strengthen evidence-based forest management and support Guyana’s pathway to a Green Economy,” said Wilmot Garnett, IICA Representative and CARICOM Liaison. “By enhancing the flow and integrity of forest data, the GFC will be better equipped to operationalize the FLEGT licensing system and validate the legality of timber from forest to export.”

The consultancy will include a full diagnostic assessment of GFC’s current IT systems, stakeholder consultations, and a cost-benefit analysis of investment options. Deliverables will consist of a financial framework, a risk management plan, and an implementation roadmap that connects GFC’s central and regional operations to facilitate the efficient execution of VPA-related procedures.

Running from November 2025 to January 2026, this work underscores IICA’s continued commitment to modernising the forestry sector through innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, paving the way for stronger governance, improved traceability, and long-term resilience in Guyana’s forest management systems.

Signed and entering into force in June 2023, the FLEGT VPA aims to reduce illegal logging, strengthen forest governance, and promote trade in legally produced timber. Through its partnership with the EU, IICA Guyana is supporting the national implementation process by delivering targeted interventions outlined in the Joint Implementation Framework (JIF). These include capacity strengthening, stakeholder engagement, and digital modernisation of forest data systems.

____________

Press and media contact:
Tanika Jones
Communications Expert
Email: euflegtguyana@gmail.com
Tel: (592) 700-9972