Vickram Bharrat, Minister of Natural Resources, recently witnessed a significant agreement signing between the European Union (EU) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
This agreement underscores the EU’s commitment to funding the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with Guyana.
The VPA Implementation phase, set to conclude in 2026, is a critical component of Guyana’s efforts to ensure sustainable forest management and legal timber trade. At the November 2023 Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (JMRC) meeting, EU Ambassador to Guyana, Rene Van Nes, announced additional EU funding to support this initiative.
The funding, formalized through a Contribution Agreement between the EU Guyana Office and IICA, aims to achieve several key objectives:
Enhance Compliance: Improve the governance system of Guyana’s forest sector to meet EU FLEGT requirements, including the implementation of the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System.
Strengthen Stakeholder Participation: Increase stakeholder involvement and adherence to the VPA process.
Facilitate Information Exchange: Promote FLEGT compliance information sharing between EU and Guyana partners to ensure the VPA’s long-term sustainability.
Capacity Building: Bolster capabilities at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and within the forest sector.
This new funding complements ongoing support for the digitization of the Timber Legality Assurance System, further solidifying the framework for sustainable forestry in Guyana. The developed workplan and budget by IICA and the GFC FLEGT Secretariat will guide these initiatives to fruition.
Minister Bharrat lauded the EU’s support, highlighting its importance in advancing Guyana’s forestry governance and sustainable development goals. The first FLEGT license is expected to be issued in 2026, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between Guyana and the EU.
