REMARKS TO THE WORKSHOP ON “RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR THE GUIANAS” BY THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR FORESTRY)

HON. ROBERT M. PERSAUD, MBA, MP

Red House, March 12, 2008,

 

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is the Government of Guyana Agency that is tasked with the responsibility of managing the nation’s state forest resources which total some 13.6 million hectares of pristine tropical rain forests.

This is obviously a very demanding responsibility, and requires that the GFC address in a very comprehensive manner, all aspects of forestry including state forest allocation, harvesting, extraction, industry development and processing, marketing; and of course, forestry research.

Traditionally, as was the case in other tropical countries, forestry research was done by the forestry department of the Ministry of Agriculture; this role was eventually assumed by the Guyana Forestry Commission when it when it made a semi-autonomous agency in 1979.

This was also in keeping with the GFC’s mandate as enshrined in the National Forest Policy of 1997 which requires the GFC to direct and coordinate forest research.

The regulatory and revenue collection activities of the GFC, however, took priority at the expense of forestry research. Fortunately, around this period several other organizations became involved in local forestry research such as the:

 

• University of Guyana
• Iwokrama International Centre
• Conservation International
• Worldwide Fund for Nature
• Tropenbos-Guyana Program

 

The combined efforts of this grouping resulted in a substantial amount of important forestry activities being carried out. Simultaneously, however, the need for better coordination of the forestry research undertaken by these groups was evident. This prompted the Guyana Forestry Commission to host a National Workshop on Forestry Research at the Park Hotel, Georgetown on September 9, 1999.

            At this workshop, amongst other topics addressed, organizations were requested to highlight what they felt were the priority research areas. These organizations included those involved in actually doing the research such as those I mentioned earlier, as well as direct beneficiaries of the research such as the Forest Products Association and the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association.

A review of the proceedings of that workshop can be very informative. It shows that many of the suggested areas of research that were highlighted some eight (8) years ago are still very valid.

For example, there was general agreement that high priority should be placed on research that:

·        improved economic returns

·        increased social benefits

·        enhanced environmental management of forest operations

·        involved local institutions and local communities as partners

·        ensured that capacity building was sustained on a long term basis

·        improved the understanding of Guyana’s unique forest ecology

·        Identified and developed lesser understood forest values and benefits.

 

Today, we are again engaged in a similar exercise which is aimed at essentially updating the work of September 9, 1999 by prioritizing areas for forestry research.  In addition to the areas previously identified in that workshop of 1999, I challenge you to take on board all of the recent developments that are occurring locally and internationally in the sphere of forestry and other renewable natural resources.

These new topical areas offer us golden opportunities to expand on the types of services and products that our forests have to offer, especially at a time when globally, much more recognition and emphasis is increasingly placed on the role of forests in mitigating climate change, and the role of forests as a source of renewable energy. 

The contribution of our forest in mitigating climate change cannot be undervalued. I do hope that the research priorities will, in the long run, reinforce our call internationally for a market-based compensatory mechanism to reward standing rainforests for their environmental services  

This timely workshop is also coming at a time when we must further ensure that all our policies for sustainable utilization and management of the forest resources are based on sound documented scientific evidence.

This evidence must be of a quality that withstands the scrutiny of the extremists who do not want us to sustainably utilize our forests for improvement of poor rural livelihoods, but who on the other hand, are not prepared to compensate our people for maintaining these forests in an untouched state.

I want to underscore the need for all non-governmental bodies that are engaged in forestry research at the national level, to ensure that they respect the role of the GFC as the authorized Government agency that is responsible for coordinating Forestry research in Guyana.

I have already engaged the GFC and Iwokrama on the need for establishing a coordinating mechanism which must be effective, efficient and non-bureaucratic. We must work together as a team, always respecting that we each have specific roles to play, and clearly defined boundaries within which to operate. That is the only way we would be able to synergize our varied talents to maximize our outputs and take the forestry sector forward in a constructive and positive manner.

Finally, I wish to commend the European Union for its support in this area and do look forward to the results of this very important discussion and wish you success.

 

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