Guyana passes Forestry Bill

A new Forestry Bill has been passed by Guyana’s parliament which sets a regime for the sustainable management of state forests.

The International Tropical Timber Organisation’s latest market report says the bill’s second part stipulates the issuing of five types of state forest authorisations – concessions, exploratory permits, use permits, community forest management agreements and afforestation agreements.

It places emphasis on value-added activities by addressing quality control issues through legally binding codes of practice.

Issues of underpricing, unlawful forest product export and contraventions of the Guyana Forestry Commission’s guidelines are also covered.