| The European Union has joined a number of other countries which continue to push its no-tolerance stance on illegal logging and Guyana is considering the possible trade implications and the establishment of a voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) with that bloc that can see financial assistance coming for a number of programmes.Following initial meetings this year between the European Union and the Government of Guyana, several Amerindian leaders met yesterday in a two-day workshop at the Guyana International Centre, East Coast Demerara, to discuss the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT).The EU-FLEGT Action Plan sets out a programme of action that the forms the EU’s response to the problem of illegal logging and the trade associated with timber products.In 2002, EU hosted an international workshop to deal with illegal logging. EU published its first proposal for a FLEGT action plan in May, 2003.The action plan sets out a range of measures that aim to combat the problem of illegal logging that include support to timber producing countries, activities to promote trade in legal timber, better public procurement policies and the problem of conflict timber, among other key issues.Yesterday, 19 Amerindian leaders of the National Toshaos Council were among the several stakeholders that met to discuss the implications of the EU measures to curb global illegal logging and how Guyana can continue to hold on to that market which last year alone was worth over $800M.FearsAt the closing ceremony of the workshop yesterday, it was acknowledged that there fears and questions from the Amerindians over EU-FLEGT.The Amerindians have three months to say whether they want to be part of the EU VPA.According to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, while Guyana has not committed to signing any agreement with the EU since consultations are still being carried out, the country has been in preparation for a while now to meet international requirements.Already, Guyana is in line to meet US’ requirements of the Lacey Act, which spells out how timber being exported to that country has to be shipped.According to the Minister, the past two days can be considered a major stepping-stone in the pathway of determining the next step in Guyana’s engagement with the EU FLEGT.“As part of our commitment to consultation, the main purpose was to share information and better inform local stakeholders about EU FLEGT as we explore Guyana’s possible engagement in EU FLEGT with an aim of entering into a Voluntary Partnership Agreement.“The forest sector in Guyana is of tremendous importance not only as a contributor to the timber and forest products sub sector but also in the fight against climate change.”Persaud pointed out that the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Government of Norway outlined a cooperation framework over the next five years.“This interaction is consistent with our commitment contained in the MoU is the commencement of a formal dialogue with the European Union on its Forest Law Enforcement,Wholesale Jerseys China, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) processes and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA).”$800M marketGuyana’s total forest products export value to the European Union in 2009 was US$4.55M and for half-year 2010 it was US$3.35M, already doubling corresponding 2009 half year total of US$1.5M.In 2010, January to June period, the total export value to the EU accounts for approximately 14 per cent of Guyana’s total forest export market in terms of value. The 14 per cent accounted for dressed and undressed lumber, piles and a small amount of split wood.There has been no logs export to the European market for 2010 so far, the Minister said.Although not being the top two market regions for Guyana, for which the Caribbean region and the Asia/Pacific markets mainly are the main market leaders, the European market has always been a steady and stable destination for Guyana’s forest products exports.“Although this market does not take off the majority of the volumes of forest products produced, it represents an important niche market for Guyana forest products exports.”So far, Persaud argued, Guyana has in place modernized forest legislative framework that reflect the thrust of the forest sector as the country moves into new areas of work including Guyana’s work on the LCDS, REDD+ and sustainable forest management as a whole.“The Guyana Forestry Commission’s work has been on forest law enforcement and legality to ensure compliance at both the national and international levels. We put a lot of premium on ensuring that the benefits from forest resources utilization flow to the right beneficiaries, preventing unfair competition between illegal and legal produce, maintaining a low rate of deforestation and forest degradation,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, ensuring sustainable development of forest dependent communities, and mitigating against climate change in a REDD+ framework.”He stressed that the EU FLEGT is but one of the programmes out there today that deals with forest legality.“Tropical wood products exporting countries like Guyana are now faced, whether directly or indirectly, with having to frame existing systems to meet a number of new requirements including those of the US Lacey Act, recommendations of ITTO, FAO, UK requirement for tropical timer use in public projects.”According to the Minister, FLEGT may potentially benefit many groups of stakeholders from a number of perspectives, including helping to stimulate markets, enabling Guyana’s exporters to retain market, increasing reporting requirements, developing additional systems in the chain of custody tracking at the company level, as well as potentially ramping up forest management and monitoring efforts at the company level.“It is possible that the impact of EU FLEGT may be multi-faceted and impact on various groups of stakeholders differently,cheap nfl jerseys, based on type of economic activity,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, use of the forest, level of operation and capacity, among other areas.“Additionally, the financial and other resources implications of what may be new requirement of private sector operators,Cheap Jerseys From China, communities as well as the government under EU FLEGT, is an area that will have to be subject to deep reflection,Cheap NFL Jerseys, analyses and assessment by the Government of Guyana.”Yesterday, representatives of the Forest Products Association of Guyana (FPA) and the National Toshaos Council both said that the bodies were in consultations with the process.According to EU’s Representative on the EU-FLEGT, John Bruneval, Guyana is on the right track on the discussions.He warned that there should be no hurry as there was still some degree of “confusion”.There is a need for intense debate and dialogues among all the forestry stakeholders.He stressed that the choice to join EU-FLEGT is a voluntary one. |
