The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Wildlife Fund-Guianas on Thursday in an effort to bolster the country’s management practices.
The MoU was signed during a ceremony at the Yarrowkabra Forestry Training Centre, Soesdyke, on International Day of Forests 2024 under the theme: “Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a better World.”
The agreement falls under the European Union (EU)- funded Sustainable Forest Livelihoods for Communities of Guyana project. With a budget of $1.1 billion, this project is aimed at nurturing healthy forests and fostering sustainable local community development.
The agreement supports initiatives geared towards training enhancement and the acquisition of necessary equipment to facilitate these efforts. Notably, financial support will be channeled to fortify the Yarrowkabra Forestry Training School, emphasizing its pivotal role in shaping the forestry sector’s future.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, lauded the GFC’s steadfast efforts in advancing the forestry sector, while expressing gratitude to the EU for its unwavering support. He underscored the transformative potential inherent within the training centre, envisioning it as a hub for sectoral innovation and progress.
“I’m thankful to the EU and the commitment made to upgrade this facility, because there is so much more that we can do here,” the minister said.
It was highlighted that there were recent enhancements to the Yarrowkabra training centre, such as the establishment of a new seedling station for reforestation.
Contrary to misconceptions, Minister Bharrat stressed the enduring vitality of Guyana’s traditional sectors, reaffirming the government’s dedication to their growth and prosperity.
He said too, “The criticism is that everybody is gravitating to the oil and gas sector. That is not true. Approximately 6,000 Guyanese are employed in the oil and gas sector today. Even when we start producing 1.2 billion barrels of oil by 2027, the oil and gas sector will never employ the amount of people that are employed by the Guyana Forestry Commission, because it is designed that way. That is why as a government, we need to ensure that we continue to incentivise the traditional sectors, and continue to grow the traditional sectors.”
Recognising forests as a cornerstone of Guyana’s ecosystem, Minister Bharrat reiterated the government’s commitment to their preservation.
EU Ambassador to Guyana, Rene van Nes, hailed the MoU as a catalyst for tangible progress in building a forestry sector that harmonizes sustainability with economic development.
“Under this programme, we will now start supporting forested communities in making business plans, with training, in reducing impact logging…and all other aspects relevant to running viable businesses. This includes procuring forest management tools such as GPS devices…in addition to providing financial support to the Yarrowkabra training centre,” he explained.
