Resources

The section contains the VPA Annexes, laws and regulations related to the forest sector, application forms, and other helpful information for Forest Sector Operators (FSOs), Forest Sector Stakeholders, and the general public.

VPA

The Voluntary Partnership Agreement

The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the European Union and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade in Timber Products into the European Union.

The Voluntary Partnership Agreement Main Text

The text of the EU-Guyana FLEGT VPA is made public here exclusively for information purposes. The text presented in this document is the text at the end of the negotiations conducted by the European Commission. It will be subject to legal revision in order to verify the internal consistency and to ensure that the formulations of the negotiating results are legally sound. It will be transmitted to the Council for its signing and, following assent of the European Parliament, conclusion. This text is therefore not binding under international law.

EU-Guyana Aide Mémoires

Aide-mémoires of all Guyana-EU negotiation sessions on the FLEGT VPA, including those from Pre-Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (JMRC) meetings.

VPA Annexes

Annexes

ANNEX I: Product Scope

The list in this Annex refers to the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System established by the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System of the World Customs Union.

ANNEX II: Draft Legality Definition for EU – Guyana Voluntary Partnership Agreement

This Annex sets out the Legality Definition (LD) for ‘legal timber’ applicable to this Agreement.

ANNEX III: Condition for the Release for Free Circulation in the Union of Timber Products Exported from Guyana and Covered by a FLEGT Licence

This Annex lists conditions for the lodging of the licence, checks on validity of license documentation, requests for additional information, verification of the conformity of the licence with the shipment, verification prior to the arrival of the shipment, other matters and release for free circulation.

ANNEX IV: Requirements and Technical Specifications for FLEGT Licences

Detailed in this Annex are the general requirements relating to FLEGT licences.

ANNEX V: The Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS)

This Annex describes GTLAS and outlines its scope and enhancing systems that supports its implementation.

ANNEX VI: Terms of Reference for the Independent Audit of the GTLAS

The Terms of Reference (ToR) included in this Annex describe the operations and functions of the Independent Audit to assess the system of legality assurance established in this Agreement.

ANNEX VII: Supporting Measures and Financing Mechanisms

This Annex indicates the range of supporting measures Guyana will take in cooperation with the Union and its Member States and other development partners to implement this Agreement effectively.

ANNEX VIII: Criteria for Assessing the Operationality of Guyana’s Timber Legality Assurance System

The purpose, requirements and approach for a joint independent technical evaluation of the GTLAS to be carried out before the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensing of timber exports to the European Union commences is outlined in this Annex.

ANNEX IX: Public Access to Information on the FLEGT Licence

This Annex lists information to be published by all parties in line with the policies of Guyana and the Union to ensure transparency through continuous access to information.

ANNEX X: Joint Monitoring and Review Committee

Described within this Annex are the specific functions and tasks of the JMRC related to the management, monitoring and review of the implementation of the Agreement, including the management of the independent audit.

GTLAS

JIF

Draft JIF Document

A guide for the implementation of the FLEGT VPA, the document contains the purpose of Guyana-EU JIF, the Multi-year Implementation Plan, strategic tasks and output areas.

Draft Monitoring Plan

Designed to enable the Pre-Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (JMRC)/JMRC to monitor the overall progress of implementation leading up to and including the Joint Evaluation of the readiness of GTLAS. The Monitoring Plan uses several priority actions which are found within the Activity Plan of the JIF.

Draft Work plan July 2019 – December 2020

The work plan is extracted from the JIF Multi-Year Implementation Plan and includes activity number, activity description, lead agency and possible sources of funding.

Publications

Guyana VPA Compliance Outreach: Lessons Learnt Note

Guyana is in the process of developing its Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS). To increase awareness of the system’s requirements, the European Forest Institute Technical Assistance Project (EFITAP) supported the Guyana Forestry Commission during 2022 to conduct an outreach programme that included a series of training sessions aimed at increasing the compliance of forest sector operators (FSOs) with forest sector regulations. This ‘lessons learnt’ note documents:

The process conducted by EFITAP Guyana in carrying out the outreach.
The lessons learnt (what worked, what did not work, etc.) from the outreach team.
The recommendations for implementing similar projects in the future.

Five-Step Guide to Stakeholder Engagement in Guyana

Stakeholder engagement aims to ensure participation, equity, accountability, and transparency. It supports the development of partnerships and networks amongst different stakeholders. When done well, it can mitigate potential risks and conflicts with stakeholder groups by reducing mistrust and resistance to change while increasing stakeholder buy-in and confidence.

Stakeholder Engagement Guide

This Stakeholder Engagement Guide was compiled from materials and ideas drawn from various publications and experiences of stakeholder engagement practitioners in Guyana.

Handbook for Forest Officers: Compliance Guidelines for Improving Timber Legality in Guyana

The Handbook for Forest Officers: Compliance Guidelines for Improving Timber Legality in Guyana is a reference tool on the legal framework for forestry activities and legality requirements needed by Forest Sector Operators (FSOs) to comply with the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS).

National Communication Strategy

The National Communication Strategy and its Implementation Action Plan for the FLEGT VPA implementation process were developed through a series of extensive participatory activities and consultations. It is central to all stages of the VPA process and establishes a strategic direction to promote Guyana’s commitment to VPA.

Improving Compliance in Guyana’s Forestry Sector – A Stakeholder Perspective

The working paper is a preliminary document developed to contribute to conversations about compliance in the Guyana forestry sector. It has not undergone external peer review. It is based on engagements with stakeholders at the forestry district level and examines the costs, advantages, and challenges of legal compliance of Forest Sector Operators (FSOs). It also offers direction and recommendations for action and further research.

Laws, Regulations, Policies

Guyana National Forest Policy Statement – 2018

This National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS), and associated National Forest Plan (NFP), reflect Guyana’s movement away from valuing forests simply for their wood, and instead treats them as a cornerstone of the country’s national patrimony, providing a host of products and services necessary to achieving the good life. Of course, an NFPS that goes beyond the timber industry can only be effectively implemented by multiple actors, across different sectors and institutional scales.

Guyana’s National Forest Plan – 2018

This National Forest Plan (hereafter ‘the Plan’) accompanies the Guyana National Forest Policy Statement (hereafter ‘the Policy’), which was developed with technical as well as stakeholder inputs over the period February to September 2017. The inputs of stakeholders, including agency, private sector, community and Indigenous Peoples, were key to identifying the actions needed for the operationalizing of the new Policy.

Code of Practice for Forest Operations for State Forest Authorizations: Timber Sales Agreements, Wood Cutting License Holders, State Forest Exploratory Permits, State Forest Permissions, Community Forestry Management Agreements (SFA-TSAs, WCLs, SFEPs, SFP, CFMAs)

This Code of Practice for Forest Operations provides a range of standards, guidelines and rules that will help concessionaires to adopt appropriate practices.