Govt. clamp down on illegal logging, mining in Protected Areas
– as the Ministry set aside $ 250M for a forest inventory database
the Minister of audio resources, Vickram Bharrat.
Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Natural Resources in conjunction with the Commission for Protected Areas (PAC) has announced plans to seize all equipment used by illegal loggers and miners found to be operating in protected areas. He also noted that legal proceedings will be initiated to prosecute those found guilty.
The warning was issued yesterday by the Ministry, which has since called for “all miners and recorders carrying out illegal operations within designated Protected Areas to cease immediately.”
These areas include Kaieteur National Park, Iwokrama, Kanuku Mountains, Shell Beach, and Amerindian Konashen Protected Areas.
In a statement, it was noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the CAP continue to receive reports of illegal mining and logging in Protected Areas, especially in the Kanuku Mountains, Iwokrama and Kaieteur National Park.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, “these illegal activities do not fit with the various Acts governing these regulatory agencies.”
The Ministry’s warning comes a day after the country’s observance of International Forest Day was observed under the theme, ‘Forest Restoration – a path to recovery and well-being. ”
The Significant Minister with responsibility for the sector, Vickram Bharrat, in his message to commemorate the day, underlined that the managing administration is committed to maximizing the return of the vital resource in line with the principles of sustainable management .
Guyana, he said, has recorded one of the lowest deforestation rates globally of just 0.070 percent – having never surpassed the one percent mark.
He also used the occasion to announce, that his Ministry had approved in its spending in 2021 some $ 250M to undertake a National Forest Inventory (NFI).
This initiative, he said, was “considered to be necessary for Guyana in order to boost the planning capacity of the forestry sector and maximize the potential of our rich, tropical, multiple forest use.”
He said data obtained from the NFI will be analyzed to provide much needed forest resource statistics and environmental benefits for reference databases that will enable direct evidence-based forest management and planning. ”
He also reminded that the country has made significant progress with the European Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Initiative (EU / FLEGT) which conveys strong forest governance parameters, sound environmental principles, legality and broad stakeholder input.
According to Minister Bharrat, EU / FLEGT licenses are expected to be issued in another three to four years.
He also noted that Guyana is also exploring becoming a member of the Forest Certification Certification Program.
Bharrat said, “This, alongside the FLEGT, will provide consumers with certainty of legitimacy and sustainability.”
The Minister also reminded the five-year National Log Export Policy that expired in 2025 that will allow for the consolidation of timber exports by concession holders, sawmillers and timber dealers.