Guyana considers implications of new EU’s laws on illegal timber

Europe has passed new legislation to counter the flow of illegal timber into its markets. With Guyana last year exporting timber to the tune of US$5M ($1B) to the European Union, the market is one that the country could ill-afford to lose.
Next Wednesday, the Forest Products Association of Guyana (FPA) will be holding a workshop with the assistance from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, to increase awareness of the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) new measures which have implications for exporting countries.
According to the ACP-FLEGT Support Programme, the workshop will be held next Wednesday at the Grand Coastal Inn and will include representatives of the forestry sector, government and other stakeholders.
Also expected at the workshop are representatives of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Office of the Climate Change, Environmental Protection Agency, the Toshaos Council, Amerindian Peoples Association, National Amerindian Development Council, Iwokrama and Conservation International.
The industry will be represented by members of the FPA, including large sawmillers from Berbice, Essequibo and Georgetown, as well as members from the Community Forestry Association.
The workshop is to build awareness amongst stake holders and to prepare them for if and when the government will follow other timber producing countries that sign up with the EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement.
The ACP-FLEGT Support Programme is a four-year initiative funded by the European Commission and implemented by FAO with two main components that include providing assistance to exporting countries.
Financial and technical assistance are given to improve forest governance by reviewing and, if necessary, modifying national forest policy, legislative or regulatory systems.
Help is also given to strengthen the ability of government and non-governmental institutions to put into practice priority elements of the EU FLEGT Action Plan and support for pilot projects that test new systems, add value to or bridge critical gaps in FLEGT processes.