INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATION ITTO PROJECT PROPOSAL

Transcription

1 INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATION ITTO PROJECT PROPOSAL TITLE SERIAL NUMBER COMMITTEE SUBMITTED BY ORIGINAL LANGUAGE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING IMPROVED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE FORESTS AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION, TO SUPPORT SFM WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF MULTIPLE USE IN GUYANA S FOREST DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES PD 762/14 Rev.2 (F) REFORESTATION AND FOREST MANAGEMENT GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA ENGLISH SUMMARY Although Guyana is one of the few countries in the Caribbean with largely intact forest, there is evidence that degradation and deforestation in community forest concessions, due to poor knowledge and understanding of sustainable multiple use forest management practices, could become a serious problem and threaten biodiversity nationally and globally without timely action. The purpose of the Project is to help break this cycle by improving the socio-economic welfare of local and indigenous forest-dependent communities in productive (commercial) state forest concessions, through helping them to implement management practices that maintain the forests, enhance biodiversity protection and promote sustainable use of forest resources within the context of multiple use. The Project will specifically address Output 4 of the Joint ITTO/CBD Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity, which aims To improve the welfare of local communities and indigenous groups through biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The Project will assist the sustainable management of community forest concessions including preservation of biological diversity in Guyana by: identifying and assessing the key elements of biodiversity that need enhancement in the Project areas; identifying and documenting existing unsustainable practices which may be inimical to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity; developing innovative management techniques, practices and plans that would assist the protection and enhancement of the identified biodiversity, while supporting sustainable multiple use including timber harvesting; providing training and support to assist the local and indigenous communities to adopt the developed new and innovative management techniques, practices and plans; and disseminating the knowledge and experience from the Project to other local forest-dependent and indigenous communities within Guyana, through workshops and other training activities. The outputs from the Project will be the following: potential vulnerable biodiversity species and the existing management practices that impact or threaten them identified and documented, as the basis for developing and implementing improved and innovative management practices; innovative management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhancement, and support sustainable, multiple use objectives developed and fieldtested; and training modules to help local forest-dependent and indigenous communities in the Project area adopt innovative and adaptive management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhance sustainable, multiple use objectives, developed and implemented. EXECUTING AGENCY DURATION APPROXIMATE STARTING DATE BUDGET AND PROPOSED SOURCES OF FINANCE GUYANA FORESTRY COMMISSION (GFC) 24 MONTHS TO BE DETERMINED Contribution Local Currency Source in US$ Equivalent (G$) ITTO GFC TOTAL 601, , , ,318,160 20,500, ,818,160

2 Table of Contents Project Brief... 4 List of Abbreviations And Acronyms... 6 Map of the Project Area 7 Part 1: Project Context Origin : Relevance : Conformity with CBD and ITTO objectives and priorities : Relevance to the submitting country s policies : Target Area : Geographic location : Social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects : Expected outcomes at project completion Part 2: Project Rationale and Objectives : Rationale : Institutional set-up and organizational issues : Stakeholder analysis : Problem analysis : Logical framework matrix : Objectives : Development objective and impact indicators : Specific objective and outcome indicators Part 3: Description of Project Interventions : Outputs and Activities : Outputs : Activities : Implementation approaches and methods : Work Plan : Budget : Master Budget Schedule : Consolidated budget by component : ITTO budget by component : Executing agency budget by component : Assumptions, risks and sustainability : Assumptions and risks : Sustainability Part 4: Implementation Arrangements : Organization structure and stakeholder involvement mechanisms : Executing agency and partners

3 4.1.2: Project management team : Project steering committee : Stakeholder involvement mechanisms : Reporting, review, monitoring and evaluation : Dissemination and mainstreaming of project learning : Dissemination of project results : Mainstreaming project learning Annex 1: Profile of the executing agency Annex 2: Tasks and responsibilities for key experts of Executing Agencies Annex 3:Terms of reference of key personnel and consultants to be funded by ITTO Annex 4: Recommendations of ITTO 48 th expert panel Annex 5: Recommendations of ITTO 49 th Expert Panel 71 List of figures Figure 1: Map of Project areas... 7 Figure 2: Problem Analysis Figure 3: Schematic representation of the Implementation Strategy List of tables Table 1: Stakeholder Analysis Table 2: Training Program

4 Project Brief Tropical forests, including Guyana s forests, support much of the Earth s biological diversity, produce much of the world s oxygen, store large amounts of carbon, and contribute substantially to the global economy. However, the capacity of tropical forests to provide these services is reduced each year as a result of continuing deforestation and forest degradation, due largely to increasing population pressures in poor developing countries and unsustainable forest management practices. Unsustainable forest operations and other pressures on forest and land resources can lead to forest degradation and permanent losses in biodiversity and the vital ecosystem services these forests provide. Although Guyana is one of the few countries in the Caribbean with largely intact forest, there is evidence that degradation and deforestation in community forest concessions, due to poor knowledge and understanding of sustainable multiple use forest management practices, could become a serious problem and threaten biodiversity nationally and globally without timely action. The poor understanding of sustainable multiple use forest management practices arises from the lack of knowledge and skills of indigenous and other forest-dependent communities. As the populations of these communities increase, the need to depend on the available forest resources for both subsistence and income-generating activities also increases. Lacking the knowledge and ability to manage forests sustainably further compounds the problem of degradation and deforestation. The consequences of these unsustainable management practices are loss of environmental value and income generating capacity from these forests, which then exacerbates poverty within the communities and threatens their livelihood, and therefore their viability and resilience. The purpose of the Project is to help break this cycle by improving the socio-economic welfare of local and indigenous forest-dependent communities in productive (commercial) state forest concessions, through helping them to implement management practices that maintain the forests, enhance biodiversity protection and promote sustainable use of forest resources within the context of multiple use. The Project will specifically address Output 4 of the Joint ITTO/CBD Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity, which aims To improve the welfare of local communities and indigenous groups through biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The Project will assist the sustainable management of community forest concessions including preservation of biological diversity in Guyana by: identifying and assessing the key elements of biodiversity that need enhancement in the Project areas; identifying and documenting existing unsustainable practices which may be inimical to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity; developing innovative management techniques, practices and plans that would assist the protection and enhancement of the identified biodiversity, while supporting sustainable multiple use including timber harvesting; providing training and support to assist the local and indigenous communities to adopt the developed new and innovative management techniques, practices and plans; and disseminating the knowledge and experience from the Project to other local forest-dependent and indigenous communities within Guyana, through workshops and other training activities. Using external (international) and domestic (national) forestry and training experts, the outputs from the Project will be the following: potential vulnerable biodiversity species and the existing management practices that impact or threaten them identified and documented, as the basis for developing and implementing improved and innovative management practices; 4

5 innovative management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhancement, and support sustainable, multiple use objectives developed and fieldtested; and training modules to help local forest-dependent and indigenous communities in the Project area adopt innovative and adaptive management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhance sustainable, multiple use objectives, developed and implemented. 5

6 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity FCTI: The Forestry Training Centre Inc. FPA: Forest Products Association FPDMC: Forest Products Development and Marketing Council GFC: Guyana Forestry Commission GIS: Geographic Information System GM&SA: Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association GoG: Government of Guyana ITTO: International Tropical Timber Organisation IUCN: International Union on Conversation of Nature LCDS: Low Carbon Development Strategy NFP: National Forest Plan NFPS: National Forest Policy Statement SFEPs: State Forest Exploratory Permits SFPs: State Forest Permissions SWOT: Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat TSAs: Timber Sales Agreements WCLs: Wood Cutting Licences 6

7 Map of the Project Area Figure 1: Map of Project areas 7

8 Part 1: Project Context 1.1 Origin The Project originates from the desire of the Government of Guyana to: address increasing forest degradation and deforestation in indigenous and other community forest concessions (commercial productive forests); and contribute to the implementation of the ITTO/CBD Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity aimed at enhancing biodiversity conservation in tropical forests, through adapting and testing the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002) to address the main drivers of biodiversity loss in Guyana s community forest concessions. In this context, the Project is part of a suite of projects, activities and initiatives being implemented by the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), aimed at protecting and maintaining the country s forest resources, while encouraging their sustainable management and use for socio-economic development, without limiting the ability of future generations to similarly benefit from these natural assets. To assist the Government of Guyana to work towards managing the nation s forest resources sustainably for wealth creation and reduce/alleviate poverty, in 2002, the Government of Guyana invited the ITTO to send a Diagnostic Mission to the country to assess and recommend actions for achieving this objective. Since the ITTO s Diagnostic Mission, the Government of Guyana has embarked on a number of national initiatives aimed at implementing the findings and recommendations of the Diagnostic Mission, to achieve the Government s objective of promoting the sustainable management and use of the nation s forest resources for national socio-economic development, to support national wealth creation and reduce poverty. Following the Diagnostic Mission, the Guyana Forestry Commission has submitted and received funding from the ITTO for a number of projects aimed at addressing some of the Mission s key findings and recommendations in the following areas: forest management aimed at securing the natural resource base of the nation s forest industries; community forestry development; forest law enforcement and governance; industry training; and industry development, focussing on improving the efficiency and productivity of Guyana s forest enterprises. This Project aims to support indigenous and other forest-dependent communities implement innovative management practices that minimise degradation and deforestation, and enhance biodiversity, so as to improve their income generation capacity, and thereby improve their livelihood. The innovative management practices to be developed, will be based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002). 8

9 1.2: Relevance 1.2.1: Conformity with CBD and ITTO objectives and priorities The Project s objective specifically addresses Output 4 of the Joint ITTO/CBD Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity, aimed at improving the welfare of local communities and indigenous groups through biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. However, successful implementation of the Project will also contribute to achieving a number of ITTO s objectives and priorities which are described below. Conformity with ITTO policy framework The Project directly supports the following ITTA 2006 Objectives: (c): Contributing to sustainable development and to poverty alleviation Successful completion of the Project would enable indigenous and other forest-dependent communities to continue to derive maximum subsistence and income-generating activities from their forest, while minimising practices which lead to environmental degradation, and are therefore inimical to biodiversity conservation and enhancement. (m): Encouraging members to develop national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of timber producing forests, and maintaining ecological balance The Project will support Guyana s dual objective of minimising forest degradation and deforestation, while encouraging the sustainable management and use of the nation s forest resources for wealth creation through developing, testing and implementing some of the relevant forest management practices in the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and also ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002). (q): Promoting better understanding of the contribution of non-timber forest products and environmental services to the sustainable management of tropical forests with the aim of enhancing the capacity of members to develop strategies to strengthen such contributions in the context of sustainable forest management, and cooperating with relevant institutions and processes to this end By supporting forest-dependent and indigenous communities to adopt management practices that minimise forest degradation and deforestation and maximise biodiversity conservation, it will help Guyana to continue to maintain a national forest estate that can be used sustainably for the multiple use services (environmental services and timber and non-timber forest products) that forests can provide. (r): Encouraging members to recognize the role of forest-dependent indigenous and local communities in achieving sustainable forest management and develop strategies to enhance the capacity of these communities to sustainably manage tropical timber producing forests Guyana recognises the role forests can play in the lives of forest-dependent and indigenous communities, particularly in improving livelihoods through poverty reduction and/or alleviation. Indeed, these communities have depended on these forests for both cultural and subsistence use for several centuries. Successful implementation of the Project will assist in drawing on their traditional knowledge and experience, and combine them with new knowledge and strategies in innovative forest management, to further enhance their capacities to continue to derive maximum benefit from these forests on a sustainable basis, while minimising environmental degradation and enhancing biodiversity conservation. (s): Identifying and addressing relevant new and emerging issues. Climate change and global warming are new and emerging issues for the international community. The IPCC estimates that forest degradation and deforestation contribute approximately 20% of global carbon emissions. Sustainable management of global forests to reduce and/or minimise degradation ad deforestation has been identified as one of the strategies to combat anthropogenic sources of carbon emissions, which contribute to climate change and global warming. 9

10 Guyana has already identified global warming and climate change as major emerging national issues, and the government has developed and implemented several national initiatives to assist both the national and international efforts in addressing climate change and global warming. Successful implementation of this Project will further support Guyana and the international community s efforts to effectively address this relevant and new emerging global issue. It will also support the ITTO s objective of helping its member countries, through project activities, to identify and address relevant and new emerging issues related to tropical forests. The Project also addresses the following Actions contained in the ITTO Action Plan : Expected Outcome 5: Tropical forest resource better secured Action D): In cooperation with relevant organizations, support studies and activities related to reducing deforestation and degradation and enhancing carbon sinks. As described above, deforestation and forest degradation is estimated to contribute some 20% to global anthropogenic carbon emissions. Successful implementation of the Project will enhance the ability of indigenous and other forest-dependent communities to manage their forests sustainably, to minimise degradation and deforestation, which contribute to global carbon emissions, while at the same time securing the resource base on which their livelihood depends. Action E): Assess opportunities for, and promote the development of, non-timber forest products and forest environmental services that can improve the economic attractiveness of maintaining the tropical timber resource base under SFM. Non-timber forest products are already a major component of the benefits these indigenous and other forest-dependent communities derive from their forests. Helping these communities to improve their forests through adopting relevant management practices based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002), will further enhance the capacity of these forests to be used sustainably for the multiple services they can provide, including wood and non-timber forest products and environmental services such as, mitigation of climate change. Better management of these forests, to minimise degradation and deforestation and enhance biodiversity conservation, will also create new products and services, such as ecotourism, which can enhance income generation and poverty reduction, and contribute to the viability and resilience of these communities. Action G): Identify opportunities for the development of schemes for environmental services that complement tropical timber production Guyana already has in place an agreement with the Government of Norway, which will enable the country to receive additional income from managing the national forest estate to enhance its capacity as carbon sink, to contribute to the global effort to combat climate change and global warming. Improved management practices that reduce deforestation and degradation could also create new opportunities for new forest-based environmental services, such as oxygen production, conservation of biodiversity, water purification, flood control, food production, and increased production of timber, biomass and fuel wood, to further enhance the income-generation capacity of these communities. Expected Outcome 6: Tropical forest resource sustainably managed Action B): Review, revise and promote the use of the ITTO guidelines The Project also contributes to the ITTO Biennial Work Programme, specifically achievement of its Project 50, which is to facilitate the application of the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009). The experience gained from implementing the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002) in Guyana, will be useful in assisting the ITTO to continually revise and improve these guidelines and policies, to enhance their relevance and application in other ITTO member countries, and thus contribute to meeting the objectives of this Expected Outcome. 10

11 Implementing the Project would also give effect to Decision 6/XLIV that adopted ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), including making recommendations for its wide dissemination and promotion of its implementation. Conformity with Strategic Plan for Biodiversity The Project aims to contribute to achieving the Aichi Targets agreed at the Nagoya COP 10 meeting in October 2010, as well as the relevant goals and associated targets identified in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity , specifically: Target 5: By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests is at least halved and where feasible, brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation are significantly reduced. Target 7: By 2020, areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity. Target 9: By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment. Target 11: By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial, inland water and 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider land- and seascape. Target 14: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities and the poor and vulnerable. Target 15: By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15% of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification. Contributing to achieving the goals of the CBD Strategic Plan through this Project will also enable Guyana to achieve its own national objectives and commitments under the CBD. Conformity with CBD Programme of Work on Forest Biodiversity In the framework of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 and the International Year of Forests 2011, the Secretariat of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 2 March 2010 to strengthen collaboration in the pursuit of their common objectives of conserving and sustainably managing tropical forest resources. In October and December 2010, respectively, the governing bodies of CBD and ITTC adopted Decisions welcoming the ITTO/CBD collaboration (Decision X/36 and ITTC Decision 6 (XLVI). A key purpose of the MoU between the ITTO and CBD secretariats is to identify, develop and implement targeted joint activities on forests and biodiversity, with involvement of the other relevant organizations, including the development of an ITTO support programme for the implementation of the CBD programme of work on forest biodiversity in ITTO producer member countries, commonly referred to as the Joint ITTO/CBD Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity. The overall objective of the Joint ITTO/CBD Collaborative Initiative for Tropical Forest Biodiversity is to enhance biodiversity conservation in tropical forests through addressing the main drivers of biodiversity loss in tropical forests i.e. deforestation and forest degradation with the direct participation of local stakeholders. More specifically, the Initiative provides support to ITTO producer member countries to reduce losses of biodiversity through the implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Forest Biodiversity, focusing on the common objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the ITTO Action Plan. 11

12 This Project s objective of improving the social and economic welfare of local and indigenous forest-dependent communities through regenerating degraded forests to enhance biodiversity, is consistent with, and supportive of, the CBD s Programme of Work on Forest Biodiversity : Relevance to the submitting country s policies Over the past few years, the legislative structure of Guyana s forest sector has been modernized though the passage of two main pieces of legislation: the Guyana Forestry Commission Act 2007 and the Forest Act These pieces of legislation have created a strong legal framework for the social, economic and environmental management of the State Forest Estate. Both pieces of legislation have received Presidential assent and supporting structures have been developed to accompany their full implementation. The Project will comply with the following forestry-related, laws and strategic initiatives in Guyana: Forest Act of Guyana National Forest Policy Statement (2011) Guyana National Forest Plan (2011) Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) Advancing efforts towards Independent Forest monitoring, and Development of Forest Community Enterprise Programme The Guyana National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS) of 2011 recognizes that the: nation s forest resources are the patrimony of all citizens of the country, and Guyanese public is now paying increased attention to the environmental and social aspects of forestry, as well as the importance of managing the nation s forest resources to achieve multiple-use objectives. The Policy Statement highlights the importance of regulating and monitoring all harvesting activities, sufficiently to provide adequate protection of biodiversity, while ensuring sustainable wood production for both subsistence and commercial purposes. One specific objective of the NFPS is to promote sustainable and efficient forestry activities which utilize the broad range of forest resources, and contribute to national development while allowing fair returns to local and foreign entrepreneurs and investors. The Guyana Draft National Forest Plan (NFP) of 2011 provides the framework, and also identifies programmes and activities that must be accomplished to ensure the Policy s implementation and compliance with the forestry laws of Guyana. The National Forest Plan is divided into ten programmes which follow the Plan s key action areas. Guyana s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) provides the framework for the country s development towards a low carbon economy. Specifically, the national policy under Section 3 of the LCDS Creating a low-carbon economy - Sustainably managing the forestry and mining sectors aims to support companies operating in Guyana, to generate substantially more value from the finite area of the forest where sustainable commercial forest harvesting is appropriate. It is estimated that as much as $300 million more value could be realized annually from a shift to integrated primary and secondary processing and more efficient extraction within the existing stringent limits on logging. Communities and small scale forest enterprises form an important part of the forest sector in Guyana. As at December 2012, a total of 69 Community Forestry Organizations were in operation of which 65 Associations have been granted State Forest Permissions. The remaining 4 Associations were in various stages of preparation for the application of SFPs. A total of 102 State Forest Permits (SFPs) covering an area of 459,290 hectares have been allocated through this programme. The GFC has identified as a priority action, the continuation of support to Community Forestry Associations. To date, these Associations have a total membership of approximately 1,800 persons, 12

13 and can provide employment to ensure the maximization of benefits to communities, and the fostering of economic and social livelihood opportunities for this stakeholder group. The proposed Project would assist community stakeholders to continue their participation in forestry activities on a sustainable basis, to maximise commercial return to reduce poverty, while enhancing biodiversity protection. 1.3: Target Area 1.3.1: Geographic location Guyana, the only English speaking country in South America, is located on the Atlantic seaboard of north-eastern South America. It extends 800 km south from latitude 8º N on the Atlantic coast to latitude 1º N, and some 480 km east to west between longitudes 57º and 61º W. It has an area of about 215,000 km 2 and a population of approximately 750,000. Tropical high forests cover some 16.4 million hectares or about 76% of the total land area. In Guyana, there are four major categories of temporary forest concessions as follows: Timber Sales Agreements (TSAs) are issued for concessions covering more than 24,000 hectares and allocated for more than 20 years. Wood Cutting Licences (WCLs) comprise forest blocks of between 8,000 and 24,000 hectares and are issued for 3 to 10 years. WCLs and TSAs are considered larger concessions. State Forest Permissions (SFPs) cover areas of less than 8,000 hectares. They are given for two years, generally to community-based associations or small-scale operators. State Forest Exploratory Permits (SFEPs) are issued for undertaking exploratory operations such as inventories, environmental and social impact assessments and the preparation of management plans. SFEPs do not include commercial cutting rights. There are also specific Project licences, valid for only one calendar year and requiring annual renewals. They are issued for diverse activities within the sector such as charcoal and firewood production, timber depots, timber dealers, sawpits and sawmills. In addition, there are Amerindian lands legally owned by Amerindian communities, representing some 3 million hectares or 13.9% of the country area. The proportion of Amerindian land with commercial forest potential is estimated at 1.3 million hectares or some 6% of the country area. Holders of Timber Sales Agreements and Wood Cutting Licenses are often medium to large enterprises who are able to develop and implement management plans, as well as adopt management practices prescribed in the national code of practice for timber harvesting, to minimise degradation and environmental damage. Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities have limited capacity and resources to similarly develop and implement innovative management practices including management plans. The results of this Project will ultimately be rolled out to cover all State Forest Permission, State Forest Exploratory Permit concessions and Amerindian community forests. Together, the three concession types total some 4.7million hectares or 18.8% of state forests. These forests are used by forest-dependent and Amerindian communities for socio-economic and cultural purposes such as income generation, medicinal purposes and food sources. Typical products from these forest concessions include: Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and wood products for both personal use and commercial sales. Initially however, the Project will be implemented in the following seven community forestry areas, with a total area of approximately 39,118 hectares. Mainstay Loggers Association, located on the right bank of the Pakasaru River, with an approximate area of 3,683 hectares. Mara Association Group, located on the right bank Berbice River and left bank of the Taunama River, with an approximate area of 2,925 hectares. Moraballi Reserve, located to the right bank of the Essequibo River and the right bank of the Wineparu or Peruruni Creek. It has a total area of approximately 11,621 hectares. 13

14 Moraikobai Friends in Progress Association, located on the right bank of the Andabo River; and left bank of the Abary River. It has an approximate area of 6, 649 hectares. Moraikobai Friends in Progress Association, located on the left bank of the Andabo River and the eastern side of St. Francis Amerindian Village, with an approximate area of 3,229 hectares. Batavia Region 7 Community Development Council, located on the right bank of the Cuyuni River and the left bank of the Quartzstone River, with an approximate area of 3,583 hectares. St Cuthbert s Loggers Association, located on the left bank of the Captain River, the right bank of the Kibileri Creek and the left bank of the Kaburuni Creek, with an approximate area of 7,428 hectares. Figure 1 shows the locations of the seven community forest concessions to be used initially as pilots for the Project : Social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects Social and Cultural Aspects The main social problem to be addressed through the Project is improving the viability and resilience of these communities through enhancing their income generating capacity to reduce and/or alleviate poverty. Historically, forestry has played an important part of the social and cultural life of indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in Guyana. These communities utilise forestry for a wide range of uses including subsistence, medicinal and commercial to raise income, and this will continue. As the ability of these communities to use forests for income generation diminishes, the resilience and viability of the communities weaken, resulting in: communities switching to other activities such as illegal mining which can be more damaging for the environment; the younger people, who are the future of these communities, migrating to the cities in search of sustainable income generating activities, which further undermines the viability and resilience of these communities; and over time, the communities lose their cultural identity as the older generation dies off but there are no younger people with the knowledge, skills and experience to carry on the culture of the communities. Since the collapse of the aluminium industry in Guyana in the 1990 s, both indigenous and non-indigenous communities who were previously employed in the aluminium industry have used part of the State forest for income generation. Under the guidance of the GFC, several of these individuals have formed community associations, to enable the GFC to better support their forestry activities including assisting them to manage and use allocated forests sustainably. Although good progress has been achieved, there is more that needs to be done to better equip these communities to manage their forests sustainably, so as to maximise income generation while enhancing and preserving the biodiversity values of these forests. Today, there are over 69 community organisations operating in approximately 450,000 hectares of State Forest and employ close to 2,000 persons. This Project will further build on the success the GFC has achieved so far in working with these communities to enhance and sustain the forests, which are one of the main assets these communities have for sustaining their social and cultural systems. Environmental aspects The main environmental problem to be addressed by the Project is the progressive increase in forest degradation and deforestation caused by past and present unsustainable management. The result is threat to biodiversity which is critical to the ecological function of these forests. 14

15 It is expected that, developing and implementing innovative management practices together with these communities based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002), will assist in addressing this environmental problem. Successfully addressing the environmental problem through this Project will have several positive impacts, including: over time, minimising and even reversing forest degradation and deforestation; safeguarding and enhancing the biodiversity of these forests; reduced erosion, improved soil protection, reduced impacts of invasive alien species; and increasing the range of goods and services that can potentially be derived from these forests such as timber and non-timber forest products, improved water quality and supply and improved amenity values for recreation and ecotourism. Economic aspects The main economic problem to be addressed by the Project is poverty reduction and/or alleviation, to improve the livelihood of these forest communities. One of the main economic activities of communities in these forests is harvesting timber and non-timber products for sale to generate income. As past and current unsustainable management practices progressively reduce the availability of commercial species and other non-wood products, the ability of these communities to continue to derive income from these forests will diminish continually, thereby impacting adversely on their livelihoods. Through the Project, the GFC, the consultant(s) and the FPDMC will work collaboratively with the forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities, to develop marketing strategies and plans for existing and any new products and services from these forests, to ensure they can continue to use the forests for income-generating activities sustainably. In summary, the main economic benefits from the Project include: reduction in poverty through increased employment and income from the wide range of timber and non-timber products, as well as other environmental services from these forests; improved food security; improved livelihoods; and improved access to forest resources. Nationally, forestry is an important economic sector for Guyana. Over 20,000 persons are employed in the sector, contributing between 3% and 4% to the nation s Gross Domestic Product by primary products, and an estimated 5% to 8% for manufactured wood products. In rural communities, forestry provides employment for more than 2,000 persons, including indigenous and other forest-dependent communities. The Government of Guyana has earmarked the forestry sector, with emphasis on sustainable management and use and enhanced value adding along the value chain, as one of the primary areas for national development, because of the sector s potential in employment generation and contribution to poverty reduction nationally. 1.4: Expected outcomes at project completion At the conclusion of the Project, it is expected that the following would have been achieved: the key elements of biodiversity that need enhancement in the Project area would have been assessed and identified; 15

16 existing unsustainable practices which may be inimical to the enhancement of biodiversity would have been identified and documented, as the basis for developing better management techniques; innovative management techniques and plans based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002) would have been developed to assist the enhancement and protection of the identified biodiversity, while allowing sustainable multiple use including timber harvesting; training and support would have been provided to assist the local and indigenous communities to adopt the developed innovative management techniques and plans; and knowledge and experience from the Project would have been disseminated to other local forest-dependent and indigenous communities within Guyana, through workshops and other training activities. 16

17 Part 2: Project Rationale and Objectives 2.1: Rationale The rational for the Project arises from the Government of Guyana s desire to: develop and implement policies and strategies that continually support the sustainable management and use of the nation s forest resources for national wealth creation and biodiversity enhancement and conservation in perpetuity; intervene and address the drivers of biodiversity losses, particularly in community forest concessions, before the problem becomes a national and global emergency; test the applicability of ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002), in Guyana for the restoring degraded areas in community forest concessions; and maintain Guyana s forests as part of the global network of mega diversity countries and biodiversity hotspots, for the ecosystem benefits these forests provide to the international community. Tropical forests, including Guyana s forests, support much of the Earth s biological diversity, produce much of the world s oxygen, store large amounts of carbon, and contribute substantially to the global economy. However, the capacity of tropical forests to provide these services is reduced each year as a result of continuing deforestation and forest degradation, due largely to increasing population pressures in poor developing countries and unsustainable forest management practices. It is estimated that, since 2000, the area of primary forests has declined by more than 40 million hectares, including the deforestation of 13 million hectares/year, mostly in the tropics. Aside from direct forest loss, the area of degraded forests is estimated at 850 million hectares and the loss of environmental services from these areas is likely even larger than losses resulting from deforestation and again, most of these losses are in the tropics. Unsustainable forest operations and other pressures on forest and land resources can lead to forest degradation and permanent losses in biodiversity and the vital ecosystem services these forests provide. Biodiversity underpins almost all the ecosystem goods and services in forests. Ecosystem services from tropical forests include mitigation of climate change, oxygen production, conservation of biodiversity, water purification, flood control, food production, and production of timber, biomass and fuel wood. It is possible to achieve these products and services and forest resilience simultaneously through the adoption of sustainable forest management (SFM) and the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded forests. To maintain biodiversity, and hence forest s important timber and non-timber services, poor harvesting practices need to be replaced by innovative practices based on adaptive management. Guyana is classified by the IUCN as a Mega diversity country, i.e. it is among the world s top biodiversity-rich countries. Although Guyana is one of the few countries in the Caribbean with largely intact forest, there is evidence that degradation and deforestation in community forest concessions could become a serious problem and threaten biodiversity nationally and globally without timely action. A recently completed national level assessment of deforestation and forest degradation in Guyana concluded that the average rate of deforestation is between 0.03% and 0.06%. However, the lack of knowledge, skills and the inability to develop and apply appropriate adaptive management practices, as well as limited access to new/improved knowledge in multiple-use forest 17

18 management practices, is contributing to degradation and deforestation in some of these community forests, which require urgent and immediate action before it gets out of control. The poor understanding of sustainable multiple use forest management practices arises from the lack of knowledge and skills of indigenous and other forest-dependent communities. As the populations of these communities increase, the need to depend on the available forest resources for both subsistence and income raising activities also increases. Lacking the ability to manage forests sustainably further compounds the problem of degradation and deforestation. The consequences of these unsustainable management practices are loss of the forests productivity, environmental value and income generating capacity from these forests, which then exacerbates poverty and threatens the resilience and viability of these communities. This results in a situation where in order to address the increased poverty, the communities are forced to adopt more intensive and in most cases, more unsustainable practices to extract more resources from the forests, resulting in more damage being done to the forest ecosystem. Through this Project, the cycle could be broken, by developing relevant and appropriate multiple use sustainable forest management practices, and imparting this knowledge to these forest-dependent communities through training and on-going support. New and/or improved knowledge and skills in multiple-use forest management practices would assist these communities to continue to depend on these forests for both subsistence and commercial needs, without irreversibly damaging the forest ecosystem through unsustainable practices which could result in eventual loss of forest cover and biodiversity : Institutional set-up and organizational issues The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) was created in 1979 out of the pre-existing Forest Department that has its origins in The GFC is responsible for advising the responsible Minister and making submissions on issues relating to forest policy, forestry laws and regulations. The Commission is also responsible for administration and management of all State forestland. The work of the Commission is guided by a National Forest Plan that has been developed to address the forest policy. The Commission also develops and monitors standards for forest sector operations, develops and implements forest protection and conservation strategies, oversees forest research, and provides support and guidance to forestry education and training. Over the past five years, Guyana has placed increasing emphasis on ensuring that forests are managed in a manner that ensures sustainability and legality. This focus is reflected in the work plan of the GFC, specifically in the work plan in planning, forest resources management as well as forest monitoring. A major part of the Commission s focus in recent years has been to support indigenous and community forest associations, to improve the management of their forest concessions to meet the requirements of Guyana s forest policies and laws. One of the strategies adopted to achieve this objective has been to encourage indigenous and community forest operators to form associations, to make it easier for the Commission to better service their needs, including monitoring their forestry operations and helping to adopt innovative practices including developing management plans. There has also been a major emphasis on helping these groups to derive maximum benefit from their products through product improvement and marketing. The Forest Producers Association (FPA) is an NGO formed in 1944 by the forest industry to promote and develop the interests of the forest sector and to collaborate on activities such as training, information sharing, public awareness and institutional development. Membership is open to all individuals or companies engaged in any aspect of the business of forest products and it currently has over 60 members. The Association does not receive any government funding, and relies on membership fees to conduct its business. This being so, the only paid members of staff it employs are an executive director and a personal secretary. The association is a member of the Private Sector Commission. 18

19 The Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association Ltd (GMSA) was founded in 1963 as the Guyana Light Employers Association and re-registered in 1967 as the Guyana Manufacturers' Association. In 2005, the Association formally changed its name to the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Limited (GMSA) in recognition to the growing services sub-sector. GMSA has established itself as the organization recognized by private firms and Guyana s government as the body for consultation on matters regarding Guyana s manufacturing sector and more recently the country s growing services sub-sector. GMSA works with sub-sector firms to help members find, or gain access to, new markets or to conduct research or feasibility studies which may advance members' businesses and/or the manufacturing industry as a whole. The sub-sector committees are: agro-processing; textiles and sewn goods; printing and packaging; construction and engineering; chemicals and pharmaceuticals; minerals and related industries; forestry and wood products; services. The Forest Products Development and Marketing Council (FPDMC) was established in 2008 to provide market advisory services to the forest sector. The Council is currently being funded by the Government, and is managed by a Board of Directors made up of private sector and Government representatives. The Forestry Training Centre Inc. (FTCI) is a corporate entity that was established in 2003 to provide vocational training on Reduced Impact Logging (RIL). The Centre is managed by a Board consisting of the GFC, FPA and the Tropical forest Foundation. The Centre has since then broadened its focus to include training in forest inventory and forest management (implementing the CoP for Timber Harvesting), and is expecting to commence training in the subject areas relating to wood processing, specifically the recently established CoP for Wood Processing Operations (Sawmills and Lumberyards). Research and Vocational Institutions. Several universities, colleges and vocational institutions in Guyana provide a wide range of research, learning and training opportunities. These institutions are the main instruments for training and developing new and future professionals for the forestry sector. To date, their emphasis has been on the main sectors of the industry with limited focus on indigenous and community forestry operators. Consequently, there is a gap in their capacity to undertake research and develop management practices and approaches relevant to this sector. As part of the consultations to develop this Project, various gaps in institutional capacity relating to implementing sustainable management practices in indigenous and community forest concessions have been identified. These are summarized below: Guyana Forestry Commission: There is currently a gap that includes the lack of adequate capacity (skill and knowledge among some of the personnel) to effectively support indigenous and community forest concessionaires, to develop and implement innovative and adaptive management practices in sustainable forest management, to address the drivers of biodiversity loss. Although the GFC in the past years has focussed on ensuring that forest operations as well as downstream processing in indigenous and community forest concessions are efficient and effective, there is still more that needs to be achieved, and it is expected that the gaps in knowledge and skills would be addressed through the successful implementation of this Project. Forest Producers Association Guyana Manufacturers & Service Association and National Council of Forest Communities: These associations are the business entities or private sector representatives for the forestry sector. Their focus is on maintaining competitive businesses. However, their concern is also on ensuring that the nation s forest resources are managed sustainably, to secure the resource base on which the industry depends for this and future generations. Innovative management practices, to be developed and implemented through this Project, will help them in post-harvest management including re-planting of their concessions. Forest Products Development and Marketing Council: This Agency currently experiences limitations in being able to provide comprehensive and detailed market advisory service to all stakeholders, particularly indigenous and community forest operators. Their involvement will provide the opportunity for the organisation to be more acquainted with the needs and requirements of this sector of the industry. Improved livelihood through enhanced income generation by indigenous and community forestry operators, would be achieved if they are better 19

20 supported to improve the quality of their products, develop new products and services (timber and non-timber) and market these effectively nationally and internationally. Forestry Training Centre Inc. (FTCI): This institution was set up with the objective of ensuring that there is a cadre of skilled personnel available for companies operation throughout the forestry/wood processing sector. It has created an impact in the area of forest management and is now looking to expand into the wood processing sector. This Project provides the opportunity for this institution to develop training programs specifically tailored to the needs of indigenous and community forest operators in sustainable forest management practices. The FTCI will be involved in developing and delivering all the training associated with the Project. Developing the skills of the FTCI in delivering training related to on-going improvement of management practices in indigenous and other community concessions will contribute to the sustainability of the Project post completion. Research and Vocational Institutions Involvement of this sector in the Project will assist them to develop the capacity for research appropriate to the needs and requirements of indigenous and community forestry operators. It will also assist them in understanding how to better support this sector of the forest industry with appropriate and relevant human resource development programs. Successful implementation of the Project will also have significant positive impacts on the strategies and goals of various forestry-related government policies and initiatives including the NFPS, NFP, LCDS and NCS. Relevant outcomes from the Project would be used to better inform the strategies of these policies and initiatives, and modify them appropriately where required, and/or incorporate them in policies and legislation to ensure effective implementation : Stakeholder analysis The main stakeholder groups that will be involved in this Project are: indigenous and other forest-dependent communities, including their relevant community Forestry Associations; Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC); Research and Vocational institutions; FPDMC; GM&SA; and FPA. The level of involvement of each group will differ based on their role as either primary or secondary stakeholder. The primary stakeholders are the indigenous and other forest-dependent communities and their relevant community forest associations. These are the target groups for the Project. They have had a significant involvement in designing the Project through workshops and consultations, to understand the main challenges they face in managing their forest concessions sustainably. These consultations revealed the following as the key challenges: lack of understanding of the complex ecosystems that underpin their forests; lack of skill and knowledge in modern adaptive management practices for multiple use forests; lack of resources to improve their knowledge and skills; need for assistance, particularly training, in developing and implementing management plans; and 20

21 assistance in developing and implementing marketing strategies, to help them maximize economic returns from the timber and non-timber products and services they derive from their forests. The main secondary stakeholders are the GFC, research and vocational institutions, the FPA, GM&SA and FPDMC. GFC has the statutory role of managing the national forest estate sustainably for wealth creation and poverty alleviation. The primary motivation of the GFC is to continue to assist indigenous and other forest-dependent communities and their community forestry associations in the same way it helps large and small to medium enterprises in the sector. One of the main assistance the GFC provides to these groups within the sector is acquiring the knowledge and developing the skills necessary to manage their concessions sustainably, and achieve maximum value within the existing forestry policies and laws of Guyana. In relation to indigenous and other forest-dependent communities, their main incentive is to maintain functioning viable and resilient communities, through having a viable resource base that can be used for both socio-cultural purposes and income generation to reduce and/or alleviate poverty. Their motivation in participating in the Project is to gain the knowledge, skills and know how to manage their forest concessions to meet sustainable management and use requirements of the GFC and the government, as well as continue to generate income and maintain their livelihood. The research and vocational institutions are motivated by knowledge acquisition, through research and training, to develop present and future professionals who may be employed in the forestry sector. Their participation in the Project will also allow them to meet their own statutory responsibility of supporting forestry policy development with science-based knowledge and information, as well as developing the present and future workforce for the nation including the forestry sector. The FPDMC is the marketing and product development arm of the GFC and the industry. Their interest in the Project is to acquire the capacity, skills and knowledge to help the community forestry associations improve the marketing and promotion of products and services from their forestry concessions. To date, the FPDMC has had limited involvement in development new environmental services from community forestry concessions. The Project would give them the opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills in this new and emerging area for increased income generation, to reduce/alleviate poverty in the indigenous and other forest-dependent communities. The FPA and GM&SA are peak industry associations. Their main interest is to see a fully integrated and viable forestry sector where all participants (large and small to medium enterprises and community forestry associations) are equipped with the knowledge, skills and capacity to manage their concessions sustainably for maximum wealth generation. As most of the members of these industry associations market their products internationally, it is also in their interest for a positive image of the industry to be projected internationally, including the sustainable management of community forestry within the policies and forestry laws of Guyana. 21

22 The table below presents a detailed breakdown of the various stakeholder groups and the characteristic, problems/interest/ needs, potentials and involvement in the project. Table 1: Stakeholder Analysis Stakeholder Group Characteristics Problems, Needs, Interests Potentials Involvement in Project Primary Stakeholders Indigenous and other forestdependent communities This group is made up of indigenous Amerindian communities, who have title to their lands, and other forest-dependent communities who have been given permission by the GFC to use forests for income generation activities under the direction and supervision of the GFC. The majority of these groups have formed associations to assist them in better protecting their interests, as well as enable the GFC to help them better. Both groups use the forests for socio-cultural and income generation purposes to improve their livelihood Knowledge, skills and capacity to manage and use their forests sustainably within the forestry policies and laws of Guyana. Increased income generation from timber and non-timber goods and services from their forests, to reduce/alleviate poverty and protect and maintain the viability and resilience of their communities. Ability to develop and implement management plans appropriate to their concessions. Ability to develop new timber and non-timber products and services, including how to better market them. Improved understanding of the complexity of their forests ecosystems and how to manage them better to minimize degradation and deforestation. Ability to acquire new skills and knowledge in managing their concessions for multiple use objectives. Direct involvement in: assessing the forests to identify vulnerable and threatened biodiversity; developing management plans and appropriate management practices to maintain their forests, as well as enhance biodiversity protection; developing strategies for new timber and nontimber goods and services; developing and delivering appropriate training to indigenous and other community forest users; and the on-going monitoring and evaluation of the Project s delivery and implementation. 22

23 Stakeholder Group Characteristics Problems, Needs, Interests Potentials Involvement in Project Secondary Stakeholders GFC It is the Guyana Government s designated agency for the management of the national forest estate, including implementing policies, strategies and initiatives related to the nation s forestry estate. It is also the main forestry regulatory agency. On-going improvement and updating of the agency s capacity, knowledge and skills in sustainable forest management, to reduce degradation and deforestation and enhance biodiversity conservation so as to secure the resource base of the industry for this and future generations. Improved capacity to better support all sectors of the industry to manage and use their forest concessions sustainably. Executing agency Research and Vocational Institutions Providers of sciencebased knowledge through research to support sector development including developing future professionals for the sector. Opportunity to research and create new science-based knowledge and information to support the sustainable management and use of the nation s forest resource assets. Improved capacity for research to generate new, relevant and appropriate knowledge, to support the sustainable management of the national forest estate including policy development and training for the sector. Supporting role. FPA and GMSA Representative organizations of the companies within the sector. Effective representation of its members and development of the sector. Projecting the industry s positive image internationally. Developing and accessing new markets for the sector. Developing new products Enhanced understanding of the sector s potential, including developing new products and services for the industry for enhanced wealth creation for individual enterprises and the nation. Supporting role 23

24 Stakeholder Group Characteristics Problems, Needs, Interests Potentials Involvement in Project and services (timber and non-timber for the sector). FPDMC Industry Advisory Body, with the main responsibility for developing new products and services and marketing and promoting the industry to potential customers. Supporting the industry to maintain existing market share domestically and internationally, and exploring new opportunities for enhanced market access nationally and internationally. Limited capacity to better support indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in new product and services development and marketing Improved capacity to execute its mandate, including: better understanding of the needs of the community sector of the industry; better understanding and appreciation of the potential of new nontimber products and services; and on-going skills development of its staff, to better support all sectors of the industry. It will be involved in: developing marketing plans and strategies for new products and services; developing and delivering appropriate training; monitoring and evaluating the Project s delivery and implementation; and on-going marketing and promotional support for indigenous and other community forestry groups postimplementation of the Project. 24

25 2.1.3: Problem analysis The core problem to be addressed by the Project is the progressive loss of biodiversity in Guyana s indigenous and other community forest concessions, due to inadequate capacity of the stakeholders to sustainably manage and conserve forest biodiversity. In these forests, biodiversity is lost through both deforestation and forest degradation, which are driven largely by poor planning and inappropriate harvesting techniques. Other drivers include expansion of agriculture and livestock areas, fuel wood gathering, illegal-logging, overgrazing, unsustainable shifting cultivation of agricultural crops, and uncontrolled forest fires. Stakeholder consultations, as part of the Project s problem analysis, revealed that the fundamental cause of poor planning and the use of inappropriate harvesting techniques in community forests relates to following: poor understanding of landscape ecosystem dynamics, i.e. the interrelationships among the natural ecosystem attributes and their functions and how they sustain the forest ecosystem; poor understanding of pre-planning and the need for appropriate management techniques and harvesting practices that minimise adverse impacts on the forests, and encourage early and better recovery post-harvest; and poor knowledge of the biodiversity in these forests, their role in ecosystem functioning and the need to protect them and support their resilience. As shown in Figure 2 below, the key drivers of the problem are: lack of understanding of the complexity of the forest ecosystems, and the interrelationships existing within them, and how they support the many biodiversity elements; lack of knowledge and skills in sustainable management practices, particularly for multiple use outcomes; limited access to new/improved knowledge in multiple-use forest management practices; inability to develop and apply appropriate adaptive management practices; and lack of access to on-going training to support them to develop, retain and improve these skills. The results of this lack of capacity among stakeholders are the inability to manage their forests sustainably, then create the main drivers of biodiversity destruction i.e. deforestation and forest degradation through unsustainable practices. Deforestation and forest degradation result in productivity loss for both timber and non-timber products indigenous and other forest-dependent communities derive from these forests for both subsistence and income generation. The loss of productivity encourages the employment of more intensive and often destructive practices in order to capture more value and benefit from the forests, which further exacerbates degradation and deforestation, leading eventually to loss of forest cover and biodiversity loss. Reduced ability to derive income and livelihood from the forests results in increased poverty among these forest-dependent communities. This threatens the viability and resilience of these communities, as the loss of income-generating activities encourage the younger members of the communities to immigrate into the cities in search of better prospects. The interventions from the successful implementation of the Project would assist in breaking this cycle. Development and implementation of better management practices based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002), would assist in addressing the constraints described above and in Figure 2. 25

26 Better understanding of the relationships between forest ecosystem resilience and sustainable income generation from goods and services provided by these community forests would be a powerful incentive to encourage them to manage the forests to address the drivers of degradation and deforestation. 26

27 Figure 2: Problem Analysis Loss of biodiversity Loss of productivity Loss of community viability and resilience Increased poverty in forest communities Loss of forest cover Loss of income, increased poverty and loss of future employment and income generating activities threaten community viability and resilience. Consequence Increasing degradation and deforestation of indigenous and community forests leading to loss of biodiversity and productivity Key Problem Need to use the forests for incomegenerating activities to sustain their livelihood Continual use of unsustainable management practices Causes Desire to reduce/alleviate poverty and enhance community viability and resilience Lack of access to knowledge and training in multiple-use forest management practices Poor understanding of forest ecosystem dynamics 27

28 2.1.4: Logical framework matrix Project Elements Indicators Means of verification Assumptions Developmental Objective: Improve the socioeconomic welfare of local and indigenous forestdependent communities, through improved management practices that enhance biodiversity protection and promote sustainable use of forest resources in their productive (commercial) state forest concessions, within the context of multiple use. Indigenous and community forests assessed and vulnerable/threatened biodiversity and management practices adversely impacting on them identified and documented. Improved management practices to maintain the forests and enhance biodiversity developed, adopted and implemented by the communities. New timber and non-timber products and services identified, developed and adopted by the communities. Income generation in the communities enhanced leading to viable and resilient communities. Income of indigenous and other forestdependent communities improved by between 20% and 50% within 5 to 10years. Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities stable and viability improved significantly resulting in reduced migration of the younger members of the community to the cities. Migration to the cities by the younger members of the community reduced by between 30 and 50% within 10 years. Forestry Sector Information report (FSIR). Periodic assessment of the level of forest degradation and deforestation and ecosystem and biodiversity health in the Project area through remote sensing techniques such as aerial photography and satellite imagery. Project evaluation and monitoring reports. National census reports. The Project is implemented successfully and indigenous and other forest dependent communities in the Project area embrace and implement the new management practices developed. On-going training is available to support the communities to continually employ the new practices and ideas. New timber and non-timber products and services developed and successfully adopted by the communities. FPDMC is able to successfully help the communities market their timber and non-timber products domestically and internationally. GFC and other relevant stakeholders have developed knowledge, skills and capacity to provide on-going support to the communities achieve their objectives. 28

29 Specific Objective: Develop and disseminate innovative management practices that enhance biodiversity protection and maximise sustainable and multiple use of productive commercial state forest concessions used by local and indigenous forestdependent communities. New and innovative management practices based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002), developed, tested and implemented to improve the sustainable management of forests in the Project areas and enhance biodiversity conservation. Relevant training modules developed and implemented. Indigenous and community forest users adopt innovative management practices. Project reports to the ITTO on the implementation of the ITTO/IUCN guidelines in the Project area. Periodic assessment of the level of forest degradation and deforestation and ecosystem and biodiversity health in the Project area through remote sensing techniques such as aerial photography and satellite imagery. Project evaluation and monitoring reports. The Project is implemented successfully and indigenous and other forest dependent communities in the Project area embrace and implement the new management practices developed. On-going training is available to support the communities to continually employ the new practices and ideas. Degradation and deforestation reduced significantly by 50% within 10 years. Threatened and vulnerable biodiversity species significantly recover by between 20% and 30% within 10 years. Output 1: Potential vulnerable biodiversity species and the existing management practices that impact or threaten them identified and documented, as the basis for developing and implementing improved and innovative management practices. Existing management practices in the Project area and their impacts on potential vulnerable/biodiversity species are identified and documented. Project report detailing results of field surveys to identify and document existing management practices and how they impact on potential vulnerable/biodiversity species. Good quality GIS information and data in the Project area is readily available to assist desktop assessment and field testing. 29

30 Output 2: Innovative management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhance sustainable, multiple use objectives developed and field-tested. Improved management practices based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002) developed and successfully implemented in the Project area. Project reports describing the management practices based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002), developed and implemented in the Project area. The ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002) can readily be adapted and customized for the situation in the Project area. Output 3: Training modules to help local forest-dependent and indigenous communities in the Project area adopt innovative and adaptive management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhance sustainable, multiple use objectives, developed and implemented. Appropriate and relevant training modules based on ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary developed and used to train indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project area. Copies of training materials developed. Number of training sessions/workshops successfully organized, and the number of attendees. Attendee evaluation reports from training workshops/sessions. The Project is successfully implemented and generated appropriate and relevant material to be used for preparing training modules and materials. Indigenous and other forestdependent communities are successfully trained in the new and innovative management practices. Indigenous and other forestdependent communities accept and embrace the new ideas. 30

31 2.2: Objectives 2.2.1: Development objective and impact indicators The Project s Development Objective is: To improve the socio-economic welfare of local and indigenous forest-dependent communities, through improved management practices that enhance biodiversity protection and promote sustainable use of forest resources in their productive (commercial) state forest concessions, within the context of multiple use. Impacts will be measured at community, regional and national levels. The expected overall major impacts, following successful implementation of the Project, would be: the degree of increased capacity and the level of improvement in the knowledge and skills of forest dependent and indigenous communities, in managing their forests, based on the management prescriptions in the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002); the degree of recovery of degraded forests in the communities over time; the extent to which deforestation in the Project areas is minimised over time; the degree of enhancement in vulnerable and threatened biodiversity in the community forests over time; reduction in the impacts and potential threats posed by invasive alien species; overall forest ecosystem health improvement over time; new timber and non-timber products and services developed and successfully adopted by the communities; the degree of livelihood improvements in the communities over time; and the viability and resilience of the communities as measured by the level of migration from the communities to the cities. The main environmental impacts of the Project would be the ability of the communities to manage their forests to achieve multiple use outcomes while minimising adverse outcomes. Expected impacts and benefits would include: minimised deforestation and forest degradation; enhanced biodiversity conservation; improved water quality and supply; reduced erosion and improved soil protection; reduced impacts of invasive alien species; and reduced CO2 emissions and increased carbon stocks. The community level impacts will include the environmental benefits listed above, as well as the following socio-economic benefits: increased sustainable income generation from new timber and non-timber products and services, leading to reduction in, and or alleviation in, poverty and improved livelihoods; enhanced viability and resilience of the communities; improved food security; improved access to forest resources; and 31

32 new knowledge and skills and enhanced capacity in implementing forest restoration and rehabilitation activities. The national level impacts would include: incorporation of the knowledge, experience and lessons learnt from implementing the Project in national forestry policies; harmonising policies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management to better secure the resource base for national wealth creation; increased income and enhanced socio-economic outcomes from the nation s forest resources for the benefit of all Guyanese citizens; improved institutional capacity for restoration and rehabilitation of secondary forests and degraded forest areas, avoidance of unplanned deforestation and all types of forest degradation; improved capacity to prevent adverse impacts of invasive alien species in the nation s forests; and improved capacity for adaptation of the nation s forests to negative effects brought about by climate change and other human-induced impacts. For donors and the international community the Project would: generate valuable lessons and new knowledge on how biodiversity conservation can enhance livelihoods; demonstrate how the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002) can be adapted for implementation at the country level; demonstrate how non-timber products and other environmental services schemes can be supportive to biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods; demonstrate how to apply biodiversity and social safeguards in forestry projects; and demonstrate how existing support strategies can be enhanced to deliver the targeted global, national and local policy objectives, including the targets contained in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity , adopted by Parties to the CBD : Specific objective and outcome indicators The Project s Specific Objective is: To develop and disseminate innovative management practices that enhance biodiversity protection and maximise sustainable and multiple use of productive commercial state forest concessions used by local and indigenous forest-dependent communities. Enhanced local capacity to promote biodiversity conservation in production forests as well as in degraded and secondary forests in the tropics. Forest dependent and indigenous communities in the Project areas are equipped with the knowledge and skills for improved management of production community forests for the production of timber and non-timber forest products and enhanced biodiversity to meet the objectives of the ITTO/CBD Initiative. Forest management plans and monitoring systems have been developed and implemented successfully for community production forests. Adaptive and innovative management practices based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002) successfully adapted for community production forests in Guyana. 32

33 Capacity, skills and knowledge of the forest dependent and indigenous communities in the target areas have been improved by between 30% and 50%, to enable them to manage their forests sustainably including restoration, management and rehabilitation of degraded and secondary tropical forests. The capacity of indigenous and other forest-dependent communities have been enhanced to enable them to manage their forests sustainably for both timber and nontimber forest products and other environmental services. Safeguarding tropical forest biodiversity in forestry interventions, including in REDD+ related projects. Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project area have been equipped with the knowledge and skills to manage their forests to reduce the rate of deforestation and forest degradation in the target areas. Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project area have been equipped with the knowledge and skills to help them manage their forests to prevent, reduce and/or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species in the target area forests. Improved welfare of local communities through biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Strategies have been developed and put in place that will assist in improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities in the intervention areas, based on the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity. Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project area have been equipped with the knowledge and skills to help them manage their forests. Local capacity improved to promote restoration, and rehabilitation of degraded and secondary forests, and participatory management of protected areas. Local knowledge and experience have been identified, documented and incorporated in the sustainable use and conservation of forests in the target areas. 33

34 Part 3: Description of Project Interventions 3.1: Outputs and Activities 3.1.1: Outputs Output 1: Potential vulnerable biodiversity species and the existing management practices that impact or threaten them identified and documented, as the basis for developing and implementing improved and innovative management practices. Indicators: I. Forests in Project Areas assessed and potential vulnerable/biodiversity species identified and documented. II. Existing management practices in these community forests and how they impact on or contribute to the drivers of biodiversity loss documented. Output 2: Innovative management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhance sustainable, multiple use objectives developed and field-tested. Indicators I. Improved management practices including management plans based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002) developed. II. Improved management practices and plans tested on a pilot basis in at least two communities. Output 3: Training modules to help local forest-dependent and indigenous communities in the Project area adopt innovative and adaptive management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhance sustainable, multiple use objectives, developed and implemented. Indicator I. Training modules and training material developed 3.1.2: Activities Output 1: Activity 1.1: Using remote sensing (aerial photography and satellite imagery) and ground checking techniques, undertake survey of Project area to identify, describe and document vulnerable/biodiversity species. Activity 1.2: With the help of consultant(s) and in collaboration with the communities, GFC s Remote Sensing Division will use satellite images and aerial photographs to map and describe the vegetation types in the Project areas. The maps will be used by GFC and the consultant(s) in collaboration with the communities, to undertake ground surveys to identify and describe the floral and faunal species, including any vulnerable species and biodiversity species of national and international significance. Identify, describe and document existing management practices in the Project area and how they impact on vulnerable/biodiversity species. In collaboration with the indigenous and other forest dependent concessionaires in the Project areas, GFC and the consultant(s) will identify and describe the existing management practices being employed, with the view to understanding how they impact of the forests, including any vulnerable/biodiversity species. 34

35 Activity 1.3: Output 2: Activity 2.1: Activity 2.2: Activity 2.3: Output 3: Activity 3.1: Activity 3.2: Activity 3.3: Conduct a SWOT analysis within the community to identify potential alternative activities (timber and non-timber services) based on market potential, and develop a business strategy/plan for implementation. GFC and the consultant(s) will hold consultations including up to 4 workshops with the indigenous and other forest dependent concessionaires in the Project areas, to understand their needs including new goods and services that can be generated from improved management of the forests. This information will be used to develop business plans and/or strategies, to assist the indigenous and other forest dependent concessionaires in the Project areas derive maximum benefit from the forests without compromising biodiversity conservation. In collaboration with indigenous and forest-dependent communities in the Project area, develop model management plans for productive (commercial) community state forest concessions. GFC and the consultant(s) will work collaboratively with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities, to develop template management plans for the forests in the Project areas. In collaboration with indigenous and forest-dependent communities in the Project area, develop appropriate model innovative management techniques for productive (commercial) community state forest concessions. GFC and the consultant(s) will work collaboratively with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities, to develop new and improved forest management protocols based on the prescriptions of the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002). Develop templates/tools that can be used by the forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities for managing cash flow and implementing a marketing plan. GFC, the consultant(s) and the FPDMC will work collaboratively with the forestdependent communities and indigenous communities, to develop marketing strategies and plans for existing and any new products and services from these forests. Develop appropriate training modules. In collaboration with the Forest Training Centre and the indigenous and forestdependent communities, GFC and consultant(s) will develop training modules in how to develop and implement management plans, marketing plans and strategies, and how to apply improved and innovative forest management practices for the indigenous and community forest areas. Conduct three training workshops in three different regions to test and refine training modules. Up to three workshops will be held in three different regions, to test the training modules and receive feedback from stakeholders, to help in fine tuning them to ensure they meet their needs. Conduct 14 training workshops nationally (two in a region) to train indigenous and forest-dependent communities in productive (commercial) community state forest concessions in adoption of the developed management plans and innovative management practices. GFC, the FTC and consultant(s) will conduct up to 14 training sessions (at least two in each of the 7 Project areas) in how to implement the new and improved 35

36 Activity 3.4: forest management practices including management and marketing plans and strategies. Monitor, evaluate and document the impacts of the training workshops. GFC, the FTC and the consultant(s) will evaluate and assess the impacts of the training workshops in collaboration with the communities. The results will be used to continually improve the training materials themselves and the training delivery mechanisms. 3.2: Implementation Approaches and Methods The key objective of the Project is to develop innovative management practices to improve the enhancement of biodiversity in forests used for commercial production by indigenous and other forest-dependent communities through improved sustainable forest management practices. New and innovative management practices will be based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002). It is expected that successful development and implementation of new and innovative management practices to replace those currently employed by indigenous and other forestdependent communities, would lead to a reduction in deforestation and forest degradation. The Project s objective will be realised through collaboration with all stakeholders. The implementation strategy will involve the following steps: in collaboration with the indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project area, the national and international forestry experts and GFC s Remote Sensing Division will use satellite images and aerial photographs to map and describe the vegetation types in the Project areas. The maps will be used to undertake ground surveys to identify and describe the floral and faunal species including any vulnerable species and biodiversity species of national and international significance in the Project areas; GFC, national and international forestry experts and indigenous and other forest dependent communities will collaboratively identify and describe the existing management practices currently being employed, with the view to understanding how they impact of the forests, including any vulnerable/biodiversity species; using the information from assessments of the forests and existing management practices, GFC, international and national forestry experts and the indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project areas, will jointly develop new appropriate and innovative management practices based on the prescriptions in the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002); the new management plans and management practices will then be field-tested on a pilot basis in consultation with the indigenous and the other forest-dependent communities. The field testing will assess the relevance and appropriateness of the new management plans and practices, as well as the ability of the communities to adopt and implement them on a sustainable basis; following successful field testing of the management plans and innovative management practices, GFC and the national and international forestry experts will develop easy to use templates for productive (commercial) community state forest concessions; GFC, the national and international forestry experts and the FPDMC will hold consultations, including up to 4 workshops, with the indigenous and other forest dependent concessionaires in the Project areas, to understand their needs including 36

37 new goods and services such as ecotourism that can be generated from improved management of the forests. This information will be used to develop business plans and/or strategies, to assist the indigenous and other forest dependent concessionaires in the Project areas derive maximum benefit from the forests without compromising biodiversity conservation; the Forest Training Centre, GFC and the national and international forestry experts will then develop training modules in how to develop and implement management plans, marketing plans and strategies, as well as how to apply the improved and innovative forest management practices for the indigenous and community forest areas. This will be done in close consultation and collaboration with the indigenous and forestdependent stakeholders, initially, up to three training workshops will be conducted in three different regions to test and refine the training modules, as well as receive feedback from stakeholders, to ensure they meet their needs; full implementation will involve up to 14 training workshops nationally (two in each of the 7 Project areas), to train indigenous and forest-dependent communities in the adoption of the developed management plans and innovative management practices; and GFC and the consultant(s) will evaluate and assess the impacts of the training workshops. The results will be used to continually improve the training materials themselves and the training delivery mechanisms. An Advisory Committee will be established to oversee and guide the overall implementation of the Project, to achieve its objective and expected outputs. The Advisory Committee will comprise representatives of the CBD and ITTO Secretariats plus a balanced representation of donors and stakeholders. Monitoring of the Project will follow ITTO s standard operating procedures, as well as the production and dissemination of progress reports and financial statements on the use of project funds. Mid-term evaluation will be carried out to guide implementation and any followup. Detailed training program is presented in the table below. 37

38 Table 2: Training Program Technical Topics Target Audience Indicative Number of Participants Implementation of new and innovative management practices Development of management plans Development of marketing plans Marketing and promotion of timber and non-timber products Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project areas Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project areas Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project areas Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities in the Project areas Between 10 and 20 Between 10 and 20 Between 10 and 20 Between 10 and 20 TOTAL Number of courses Duration Expected Impacts 4 4 days Capacity, knowledge and skills development in new and innovative management practices based on the ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002). 4 4 days Understanding of management plans, and how to develop and implement them successfully. 3 3 days Understanding of marketing plans, and how to develop and implement them successfully. 3 3 days Capacity, skills and knowledge in how to market and promote timber and non-timber products to customers. 38

39 The implementation strategy for the Project is summarised in the diagram below. Figure 3: Schematic representation of the Implementation Strategy. Output 1 Assess the forests in the Project areas 1.1. Prepare GIS maps of Activity areas Output 2 Develop new and innovative management practices 2.1. Hold stakeholder consultations on Activity implementation Output 3 Implement Training 3.1. Develop training modules 1.2. Conduct field surveys to verify GIS information 1.3. Identify and describe forest types including floral and faunal species 2.2. Identify gaps in knowledge and skills Design improved management practices 3.2. Test on a pilot basis 3.3. Roll out training in all 7 Activity areas 1.4. Describe existing management practices and their impacts on vulnerable floral and faunal species 2.4. Test and review new and improved management practices 2.5. Incorporate stakeholder comments and suggestions 3.4. Evaluate training 39

40 3.3: Work Plan Outputs and Activities Output 1: Responsible Party Schedule (in months) Potential vulnerable/ biodiversity species and the existing management practices that impact or threaten them identified and documented. Using remote sensing and ground checking, undertake survey of Project area to identify, describe and document vulnerable/biodiversity species. Identify, describe and document existing management practices in the Project area and how they impact on vulnerable/biodiversity species. GFC s GIS Section, international and national forestry specialists, in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. GFC and international and national forestry specialists in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. 1.3 Conduct a SWOT analysis within the communities to identify potential alternative activities based on market potential, and develop a business strategy/plan for implementation. GFC, FPDMC and international and national forestry specialists in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. Output 2: Innovative management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhance sustainable, multiple use objectives developed for productive (commercial) state forest concessions. 40

41 In collaboration with indigenous and forestdependent communities in the Project area, develop model management plans for productive (commercial) community state forest concessions. Develop templates/tools that can be used by the forest dependent communities and indigenous communities for managing cash flow and implementing a marketing plan. GFC and international and national forestry specialists in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. GFC, FPDMC and international and national forestry specialists in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. Output 3: Training modules developed to help local forest-dependent and indigenous communities in the Project area to adopt innovative and adaptive management techniques and plans that promote biodiversity protection and enhance sustainable, multiple use objectives 3.1 Develop appropriate training modules. GFC, Forestry Training Centre and training consultant in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. 41

42 Conduct three training workshops in three different regions to test and refine training modules. Conduct 14 training workshops nationally (two in a region), to train indigenous and forest-dependent communities in productive (commercial) community state forest concessions in adoption of the developed management plans and innovative management practices. Monitor, evaluate and document the impacts of the training workshops GFC, Forestry Training Centre and training consultant in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. GFC, Forestry Training Centre and training consultant in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. GFC, Forestry Training Centre and training consultant in collaboration with forest-dependent communities and indigenous communities in the Project areas. 42

43 3.4: Budget : Master Budget Schedule 43

44 44

45 45

46 46

47 47

48 3.4.2 Consolidated budget by component Budget Component 10. Project Personnel Input/Description Unit Cost (US$) TOTAL (US$) YEAR 1(US$) YEAR 2 (US$) Project Coordinator 24 Months 1,500 36,000 18,000 18, National Forestry Expert & Training specialist 200 Days ,000 35,000 15, National Biodiversity & Resources Management Expert 175 Days ,000 56,000 14, International Remote Sensing Specialist 50 Days ,000 20, Component Total 176, ,000 47, Duty Travel 31. Daily Subsistence Allowance International Consultants 225 Days ,500 19,000 3, International Travel International Consultant 3 Flights 3,000 9,000 9, Local Transport Cost National Consultants and Experts 22 Trips ,000 8,000 3, International Consultant 30 Trips ,000 10,000 5, Component Total 57,500 46,000 11, Capital Items Computer Equipment - Computer Units 6 Units 1,000 6,000 6, Forestry Equipment - GPS 24 Units 400 9,600 9, Component Total 15,600 15, Consumable Items 51. Raw Materials 84 Events Month 2, , ,000 50, Other Consumables 30 Events Month 1,000 30,000 20,000 10, Office Supplies 60 Events days 1,000 60,000 50,000 10, Component Total 300, ,000 70,000 SUBTOTAL 60. Miscellaneous 62. Audit Cost 1 Audit 5,000 5,000 5, Component Total 5,000 5, National Management Cost 71. Executing Agency Management Costs 24 Months 2,000 48,000 24,000 24, Component Total 48,000 24,000 24, Project Monitoring and Administration 81. ITTO Monitoring & Evaluation Costs 20,000 20, Ex Post Evaluation Cost 15,000 15,000 Sub Total ITTO Program Support Cost (12% of Funds Requested from ITTO) 64,452 64, Component Total 99,452 99,452 GRAND TOTAL 701, , ,500 48

49 3.4.3 ITTO Budget by Component Budget Components Input/Description Unit Cost (US$) TOTAL (US4) YEAR 1(US$) YEAR 2 (US$) 10. Project Personnel National Forestry Expert & Training specialist 200 Days $250 $50,000 $35,000 $15, International Biodiversity & Resources Management Expert 175 Days $400 $70,000 $56,000 $14, International Remote Sensing Specialists 50 Days $400 $20,000 $20, Component Total $140,000 $111,000 $29, Duty Travel 31. Daily Subsistence Allowance International Consultants 225 Days $100 $22,500 $19,000 $3, International Travel International Consultant 3 Flights $3,000 $9,000 $9, Local Transport Cost National Consultant 30 Trips $500 $15,000 $10,000 $5, Component Total $46,500 $38,000 $8, Capital Items Computer Equipment - Computer Units 6 Units $1,000 $6,000 $6, Forestry Equipment - GPS 24 Units $400 $9,600 $9, Component Total $15,600 $15, Consumable Items 51. Raw Materials 84 Event Month $2,500 $210,000 $160,000 $50, Other consumables 30 Event Month $1,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10, Office Supplies 60 Event days $1,000 $60,000 $50,000 $10, Component Total $300,000 $230,000 $70,000 SUBTOTAL $502,100 $394,600 $107, Project Monitoring and Administration 81. ITTO Monitoring & Evaluation Costs $20,000 $20, Ex Post Evaluation Cost $15,000 $15,000 Sub Total $537,100 $429,600 ITTO Program Support Cost (12% of Funds Requested from ITTO) $64,452 $64, Component Total GRAND TOTAL $601,552 $494,052 $107,500 49

50 : Executing agency budget by component Budget Components Input/Description Unit Cost (US$) TOTAL (US$) YEAR 1(US$) YEAR 2 (US$) 10. Project Personnel Project Coordinator 24 months 1,500 36,000 18,000 18, Component Total 36,000 18,000 18, Duty Travel 33.1 Local Transport Costs 22 trips ,000 8,000 3, Component Total 11,000 8,000 3, Miscellaneous 62. Audit Cost 1 Audit 5,000 5,000 5, Component Total 5,000 5, National Management Costs 71. Executing Agency Management Costs 24 months 2,000 48,000 24,000 24, Component Total 48,000 24,000 24,000 SUBTOTAL 100,000 50,000 50,000 Executing Agency/Host Government Cost 100,000 50,000 50,000 Correlation of Budget Formats The presentation of the various budgets above were re checked and found to be in keeping with the ITTO Project Formulation manual. Further, the breakdown of activity was corresponded with the consolidated budget and the budget by agency and also found to correspond. The Detailed Budget, as in keeping with the ITTO Manual, does not include the aspect of cost relating to ITTO Monitoring and Administration expenses. In summary, the Detailed Budget corresponds to the Consolidated Budget as well as the Budget by Agency. Justification and Breakdown Table of Raw Materials and Office Supplies Raw Materials The total budget for this sub head is US$210,000. Raw Materials comprise of venue rental, rental of facilities for the stakeholder consultations and engagement sessions, and workshops such as computer and projector, microphone system, chairs, tables and food and accommodation for participants since many sessions will be out of central town accommodation is required, water, meals and snacks. Additionally, satellite imagery, aerial assessment and field verification are also included in this category. Raw Materials Sub Head Input/Description Unit Cost Approx. (US$) Total Cost (US$) Venue Rental 10 Sessions 1,400 14,000 Mainstay, Batavia Sessions 4 Sessions 5,600 St. Cuthberts, Moraikobai, Moraballi 3 sessions 4,200 50

51 Mara Session 3 session 4,200 Workshops 10 Sessions 5,000 50,000 Mainstay, Batavia Sessions 4 Sessions 20,000 St. Cuthberts, Moraikobai, Moraballi 3 sessions 15,000 Mara. Session 3 session 15,000 Field Cost 12 Field Months 8,000 96,000 Capacity Building in Field Assessment in Mainstay and Batavia 4 Field Months 32,000 Capacity Building in Field Assessment in St. Cuthberts, Moraikobai, Moraballi 6 Field Months 48,000 Capacity Building in Field Assessment in Mara 2 Field Months 16,000 Satellite Images 50,000 hectares ,000 Mainstay and Batavia 7,266 ha 4,360 St. Cuthberts, Moraikobai, Moraballi 28,927 ha 17,356 Mara 2,925 1,755 Buffer Area to Communities 10,882 ha 6,529 Aerial Assessment 50,000 hectares ,000 Mainstay and Batavia 7,266 ha 2,906 St. Cuthberts, Moraikobai, Moraballi 28,927 ha 11,571 Mara 2,925 1,170 Buffer Area to Communities 10,882 ha 4,354 Total (US$) 210,000 The Raw Material budget will be used to finance the following categories of cost: Venue Rental Workshop Field Costs Satellite Imagery Aerial Assessment The project entails the conducting of resource assessment for the identified communities using satellite imagery, aerial information, and ground thuthing. This project will cover directly an expanse of 50,000 hectares of community forest. Geographically this is spread across 6 administrative regions of Guyana and across all three counties (Essequibo, Demerara and Guyana). For communities of Moraikabai, Moraballi and Mara, forest areas are located in relatively inaccessible zones covering over 100 km of travel time that will be required per community to conduct resources assessment. As Raw Materials budget is reflective of these logistical realities influenced by the geographic factors. The effective implementation of the proposed of this project that involves a bottom up approach to resource asse3ssemtn. This strategy requires for the direct involvement and participation of community residents. To allow for the technical delivery of the project to be of high quality, there is a needs of extensive capacity building at the community level to bring stakeholder to the level of knowledge and understanding to implement the methods that will be development. This is also necessary to allow for the approach to be sustainable in the long terms. This approach required for significant field cost but will in turn lead to the greatest benefits to the community and therefore value for resources invested in this area. 51

52 The concept of the project is to empower indigenous and forest dependent communities to manage, monitor and utilize the forest areas under their oversight. The innovation approach will transform the sustainable management of forest resources for the benefit of communities that will impact positively in enhanced welfare and livelihood opportunities. The sub component of the Raw Materials budget that will facilitate the conducting of various workshops and field training sessions, will allow for communities to be equipped with the information and knowledge to better prepare them to accomplish this goal. 3.5: Assumptions, risks and sustainability 3.5.1: Assumptions and risks Risk 1: The Project is not implemented successfully, and indigenous and other forest dependent communities in the Project area do not embrace and implement the new management practices developed. Mitigation Measures: Consultations held with key stakeholders as part of the Project preparation and problem analysis have created a keen interest among all stakeholders, including indigenous and community forest concessionaires. GFC will hold a number of preimplementation consultations and workshops to further raise awareness of the Project, as well as solicit views on the best approaches to prepare and deliver the Project. In other words, ongoing dialogue and consultation with the primary stakeholders will ensure they are sufficiently involved in all aspects of the Project s implementation so as to sustain their on-going interest. In addition, the majority of the primary stakeholders are already committed to reduce and/or alleviate poverty in their communities, and are therefore looking for opportunities to achieve this. The opportunities presented through the Project to enhance income creation and therefore improve their livelihoods are strong incentives for them to remain committed and be involved in the Project s implementation. Assumption 1: The Project is implemented successfully and indigenous and other forestdependent communities in the Project area embrace and implement the new management practices developed. Risk 2: Lack of sufficient on-going training to support the communities to implement the new practices and ideas Mitigation Measures: GFC, through The Forest Training Centre Inc. (FTCI), has a good track record and history of supporting the industry with relevant on-going training cost-effectively. The involvement of the FTCI in developing the training modules for the Project, as well as being one of the delivery mechanisms, will ensure the FTCI develops sufficient expertise and experience to enable it to provide on-going training support for the sustainability of the Project among the affected communities. Assumption 2: On-going training is available to support the communities to continually employ the new practices and ideas. Risk 3: New timber and non-timber products and services developed may not be adopted by the communities Mitigation Measures: The communities have indicated their interest and desire in diversifying their income sources to include non-timber products and other environmental services. Their involvement in the Project from the design stage through to implementation will ensure they are adequately informed, so they are able to provide input to the right non-timber products and environmental services that they are interested and would like to see developed. Guyana will also continue to explore opportunities on a bilateral basis internationally, and seek the advice of donors, NGOs and other philanthropic organizations devoted to supporting sustainable markets in environmental services, to ensure the right products and services are developed and made market-ready. Implementation of the Project will involve GFC s product and marketing development organization, the FPDMC. The organization will work with stakeholders to, very early, identify new products and services that can be developed from community forests, and prepare 52

53 marketing plans and strategies to ensure maximum financial benefits can be derived from successful implementation of the Project. Assumption 3: New timber and non-timber products and services developed and successfully adopted by the communities Risk 4: Guyana may not be able to market successfully its timber and non-timber products Mitigation Measures: With the assistance of the GFC, the FPDMC has recently developed a new 5-year strategic plan with a focus on promoting Guyana s timber and non-timber products domestically and internationally. The FPDMC is also using the Guyana/EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) currently being negotiated, as impetus for global promotion of Guyana as source of high quality legal tropical wood products. This promotion will also include non-timber products and environmental services. Assumption 4: The Forest Products Development and Marketing Council (FPDMC) is able to successfully help the communities market their timber and non-timber products domestically and internationally Risk 5: GFC and other relevant stakeholders may not have the requisite knowledge, skills and capacity to provide on-going support to the communities to achieve their objectives. Mitigation Measures: GFC will undertake a comprehensive audit of its capacity, as well as that of the stakeholders whose involvement is crucial to the successful implementation of the Project. In the areas where capability may be lacking, GFC will draw on relevant and appropriate consultants from the private sector, academic, research and vocational institutions within Guyana and internationally. Assumption 5: GFC and other relevant stakeholders have developed knowledge, skills and capacity to provide on-going support to the communities to achieve their objectives. Risk 6: The Project may not be implemented successfully and indigenous and other forestdependent communities in the Project area fail to embrace and implement the new management practices. Mitigation Measures: Pre-implementation stakeholder consultations will ensure that stakeholders are sufficiently informed about the benefits of the proposed new forest management practices, including the development of management plans compared with the status quo. On-going involvement of the communities in implementation of the Project will ensure their interest and enthusiasm in the Project s success is maintained. Assumption 6: The Project is implemented successfully and indigenous and other forest dependent communities in the Project area embrace and implement the new management practices developed. Risk 7: Good quality GIS information and data in the Project area may not be available readily to assist desktop assessment and field testing Mitigation Measures: GFC s GIS Section is well equipped to analyse aerial photographs and satellite imagery to obtain data and information. It also has the contacts to be able to obtain the requisite aerial photographs and satellite imagery. In addition, GFC is involved in other projects with donor partners which require up-to date GIS information and data, so it would be possible to obtain the GIS information and data required for the Project areas. Assumption 7: Good GIS information and data in the Project area is readily available to assist desktop assessment and field testing. Risk 8: The ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration, Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Forests (2002) cannot be adapted and customized readily for the situation in the Project area. Mitigation Measures: GFC has sufficient expertise, knowledge and experience to be able to adapt these guidelines to local situations. However, if required, the GFC will draw on relevant and appropriate consultants from the private sector, academic, research and vocational institutions within Guyana and overseas. 53

54 Guyana s Forestry sector has been implementing effectively, systems to monitor sustainable management of its forest and illegal logging. It is expected that The ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration. Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Tropical Forests (2002), which will be the guiding documents for developing the new management practices, will be sufficient to help in the design and implementation of the new management practices and systems. Assumption 8: The ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration, Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Forests (2002) can be adapted and customized readily for the situation in the Project area. Risk 9: The Project cannot be implemented successfully due to the lack of appropriate and relevant material to be used for preparing training modules and materials. Mitigation Measures: The ITTO/IUCN Guidelines for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Tropical Timber Production Forests (2009), and the ITTO Guidelines for the Restoration, Management and Rehabilitation of Degraded and Secondary Forests (2002) will provide sufficient information and guidance to assist in developing new management practices, as well as training modules and materials. Assumption 9: The Project is successfully implemented and generated appropriate and relevant material to be used for preparing training modules and materials. Risk 10: Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities are not trained successfully in the new and innovative management practices. Mitigation Measures: GFC and the Project collaborators such as the FTCI have sufficient expertise, knowledge and experience to develop training materials, and successfully train the communities to implement the new management practices. Assumption 10: Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities are trained successfully in the new and innovative management practices. Risk 11: Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities do not accept and embrace the new ideas Mitigation Measures: The pre-implementation stakeholder consultations will ensure that stakeholders are sufficiently informed about the benefits of the proposed new forest management practices, including the development of management plans compared with the status quo. Assumption 11: Indigenous and other forest-dependent communities accept and embrace the new ideas 3.5.2: Sustainability The results of this project will be sustained through the following actions: The GFC will provide a seamless transfer of support activities to the communities during the implementation period of the project. This will be backed by on-going training and support. The GFC will allocate sufficient funding in its future budgets to ensure that indigenous and other forest-dependent communities continue to be supported through training and advice to implement the outcomes of the Activities. The outcomes of the Project will also be rolled out nationally to other indigenous and community forestry concessions. If required, relevant national policies, laws, regulations, codes of practice and other guidelines would be revised to incorporate new knowledge derived from implementation of the Project for the benefit of all sectors of the forest industry. 54

55 GFC will implement on-going monitoring protocols to assess and report on the progress and impacts from the Project areas, aimed at continuous improvement of forest management in these community forests. Field days and demonstration activities will be held to highlight and celebrate communities making more progress. These field days and demonstrations will also be used for information and experience sharing among stakeholders, particularly indigenous and community forest concessionaires. 55

56 Part 4: Implementation Arrangements 4.1: Organization structure and stakeholder involvement mechanisms 4.1.1: Executing agency and partners The Guyana Forestry Commission s mission is To provide excellence in forestry management services to our stakeholders through the application of professional skills to contribute to our nation s development. It is the Government Agency that is responsible for the management of Guyana s forest resources in accordance with the Reviewed National Forest Policy, which was approved by Cabinet in Budget Budget (US$) Budget Component Personnel 740, , , , ,000 Subsistence 220, , , , ,000 Capital Items 240, , , , ,000 Consumables 600, , , , ,000 Other 205, , , , ,000 Total 2,005,500 2,038,500 2,074,000 2,180,000 2,214,000 (1US$=G$200) Personnel Skill Levels Number of Staff Technical Staff with Post Graduate Degrees 20 Technical Staff with Graduate Degrees, Diploma and Certificates 240 Non-Technical Staff with Post Graduate Degrees 10 Non-Technical Staff with Graduate Degrees, Diploma and Certificates 70 The main project personnel and partners are: 1. Guyana Forestry Commission 2. National Steering Committee of Community Forestry Organisations 3. Indigenous Organization 4. Forestry Training Centre Incorporated The role of the GFC as the executing agency will be as follows: Oversee and coordinate the implementation of all project activities. Develop the Yearly Plan of Operation and Work Plan for the Project Seek No objection for relevant aspects of the project implementation. Coordinate the close off audit and reporting for the project. Execute project reporting. Coordinate procurement efforts needed under the project. Update the ITTO On Line Monitoring System 56

57 Liaise with key stakeholders identified in the stakeholder analysis for consultations, coordination of stakeholder inputs, and feedback. Develop and execute a communication strategies for the project. Integrate the results and deliverables of the project into the work plan of the GFC. The role of the other key partner will be as follows: Serve as the stakeholder forum for dialogue with the main groups that are part of the Forestry Training Centre, National Training Committee of Community Forestry Organization and the Indigenous Organization. Provide feedback and inputs at all stages in the implementation of the project s activities. Liaise with other stakeholder groups to gather support for project activities and feedback information. Support the GFC in promoting the objectives and activities of this project : Project management team The Project Management Team will be as follows: 1. Jowala Somai Project Coordinator, GFC 2. Tasreef Khan Deputy Commissioner Forest Monitoring Division GFC 3. Simone Benn Assistant Commissioner Community Development Officer - GFC 4. International Resource Management & Biodiversity Expert 5. International Remote Sensing Specialist 6. National Forestry Expert 4.1.3: Project steering committee The Guyana Forestry Commission will be the sole executing and implementing institution for this project. However, a Project Steering Committee will be established to oversee the project that will include the following members: Guyana Forestry Commission International Tropical Timber Organization Forestry Training Center The Indigenous Organization Main Donors The roles and functions of the Steering Committee are as follows: 1. Provide strategic guidance on the management and implementation of all activities under the Project. 2. Support the development of deliverables identified to be done under the project. 3. Receive and review Project Progress report and Completion report on the Project. 4. Provide a communication mechanisms between the GFC and the ITTO : Stakeholder involvement mechanisms Key sector agencies: The Guyana Forestry Commission, Forest Product Association, Guyana Manufacturers & Services Association, National Forest Community Development Council, Forestry Training Centre Incorporated and the Forest Product Development and Marketing Council will contribute to the implementation of this Project through the Technical Committees, which are already set up for inputs, communication and networking with these key industry bodies. Project results, findings and deliverables will be shared with these bodies through meetings, and their members will be involved in all of the consultation and training activities of the Project. 57

58 Stakeholders (as identified in section 2.1.2) will be directly involved and engaged with through a series of regional workshops at the outset and towards the conclusion of the project. In addition, training and awareness sessions will also be conducted for stakeholders as well as GFC staff. The following mechanism will be employed in this project to allow for appropriate stakeholder involvement: The main partners of FPDMC and the main industry bodies (Forest Products Association and the Guyana manufacturers and Services Association) are part of this Council and will thus be involved during project implementation to guide and information this process. Stakeholders will be involved at the level of the Project Steering Committee to give strategic level inputs to the Project. Through stakeholder consultations sessions over the project implementation, there will be a mechanism of inputs and feedback by stakeholders. Through the already established technical sub committees, the GFC and the industry bodies, will discuss and give inputs on the Project activities. Communication and training materials will be circulated to main stakeholder groups for further sensitization on the Project activities. The executing agency can also establish a consultative committee comprising, for example, representatives of local and regional authorities and organizations, local communities, research and educational institutions, citizens groups and NGOs, as well as independent experts, members of parliament and other stakeholders. The purpose of the consultative committee is to keep stakeholders informed about and involved in project implementation and to provide a platform by which stakeholders can provide input into the project. The consultative committee can request and receive information and give advice but has no formal responsibility for the project. Its recommendations are forwarded to the chairperson of the project steering committee. 4.2: Reporting, review, monitoring and evaluation GFC will work with ITTO to establish an appropriate monitoring schedule and ensure that results of such periodic assessments are linked to further development of the project. Bi-annual (mid-year and end-of-year) progress reports will be prepared and submitted to ITTO at mutually agreed dates. These financial and operational progress reports will be submitted to GFC for analysis and approval; if approved, GFC will forward them to ITTO. In addition, assessment reports, workshop reports, and other similar documents will be printed and made available to ITTO and other interested parties as appropriate. This will facilitate the national monitoring process and increase interactions with stakeholders and assist in developing and maintaining support for the project. The project completion report will be completed and submitted to ITTO and GFC within 3 months of project completion. The project will be subject to monitoring by ITTO representatives. The project will also be subject to GFC monitoring on behalf of the Government of Guyana. ITTO will monitor project outputs (reports etc.) during the project which, once satisfactory, should remove the need for mid-term review. Stakeholders will be able to make input at the level of the Steering Committee and Consultation Committee. All results and outputs of the project will be made available to Stakeholders though implementation (in the case of stakeholders which are beneficiaries, such as communities in the training exercises), and at the end of the project as appropriate. Below is a schedule for reporting and other arrangements for the Monitoring and Stakeholder Participation processes: Reporting and Monitoring Process Monthly Project Management meetings Half Yearly Project Steering Committee Meetings or as determined by ITTO Periodic updates as required by ITTO in the On Line Monitoring System Semi Annual Progress Reports (February and August) End of Project Completion Report Main Technical Report from Project 58

59 4.3: Dissemination and mainstreaming of project learning 4.3.1: Dissemination of project results The mechanism for dissemination of project results will be via meetings, workshops and training/sensitization sessions, and through the use of ITTO and GFC websites and local media. Minutes of Project Steering Committee and Technical Committee Meetings, and semi-annual progress report and updates on ITTO s on line monitoring system will provide the major stakeholders with information on implementation progress of project s activities. Training sessions, consultation and workshops will be used to receive feedback and also provide information of project results and activities to stakeholder. Necessary material that can be used for reference will also be distributed at these sessions. Where necessary, relevant materials will also be distributed through GFC divisional offices. The ITTO and GFC websites will also be used to disseminate any project result that is felt will be beneficially to stakeholders nationally as well as globally. Where an output is considered to be significant and can benefit other forest communities, the Forest Sector Information Report of GFC, Forest Update Newsletter, etc. will be used to disseminate the results : Mainstreaming project learning The project will benefit primary, secondary and tertiary stakeholders as described in section and therefore will have a wider value to the country as a whole. Awareness of project outcomes will be achieved through the following media (see section 4.3.1). More specifically, the project learning will be mainstreamed through the following means: The activities under this project will be continued in implementation, as part of the GFC, FPDMC and FTCI annual work plan. The infrastructures for the management of Guyana s forestry sector would have been strengthened through stakeholders participation and contribution towards the implementation of this project. The monitoring mechanism for forest products would have been strengthened and expanded to incorporate the new features which are geared towards making it more effective at local and international level. Experiences learned will be shared with ITTO and other bodies at Council sessions and other opportunities. Annex 1: Profile of the executing agency The Guyana Forestry Commission started as a Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1925; in 1979 through an Act of Parliament the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) was formed. While still being part of the government system it is considered semiautonomous and thus its day to day activities are independent. Activities relating to the forestry sector started as early as in 1925 and these functions were absorbed by the GFC when it was formed in The main activities of the Guyana Forestry Commission are: a. Promote sustainable and efficient activities which utilize the broad range of forest resources and contribute to national development. b. Conduct surveys and inventories and making recommendations on forest dynamics and silviculture. c. Prescribing standards for forest management and provide support for forestry extensions. d. Planning and allocation of forest concessions. e. Monitoring of forest concessions to ensure, all legislative, social and environmental regulations and procedures are adhered to. f. Preparing operational guidelines for forest management and operational plans 59

60 g. Responsible for overseeing community forest activities, and the activities of the Forest Products Marketing Council of Guyana and the Forestry Training Centre Inc. The Guyana Forestry Commission is self-financing, meaning that it generates its own income through collection of royalties, fees and export commission. Fees relate to income from licensing and lease fees and are sufficient to cover the operational activities of the Commission, which is payment of salaries, administrative and operational expenses and purchase of capital items. The GFC is mandated by law to: Advise the Government on, and implement the National Forest Policy; Be responsible for the management and control of the utilization of the forests to ensure an optimum yield of forest produce and the maintenance or improvement of the environment. The GFC is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the President. The Commissioner of Forests is the Chief Executive Officer and an ex-officio member of this Board. The GFC is structured with the following Divisions to address its policy mandate: 1. Planning and Development: responsible for the co-ordination and preparation of forest sector plans and reports and GFC reports and publications, for conducting special studies, for providing a drafting project proposals to donor agencies and for implementing projects. 2. Forest Resources Management Division: responsible for, inter alia, data collection on national forest resource, conducting surveys and inventories, researching and making recommendations on forest dynamics and silviculture, planning and recommending the allocation of concession areas. 3. Forest Monitoring Division: responsible for the enforcement of Forest Laws and regulations, monitoring and control of environmental and social impacts of operations within the forest estate and collection of revenue. 4. Human Resources Division: responsible for staff management and development, production and implementation of Human resources policies and procedures, education, training, including inservice training and liaison with relevant teaching and training institutions. 5. Finance Division: responsible for financial and board matters. The GFC is also equipped with a library, which provides library services to staff at the GFC and to the public. 60

61 Organization structure of GFC The GFC has a main headquarters building in Demerara, with Divisional offices in Berbice and Essequibo. In addition to these central Division offices, 26 field stations are distributed throughout the country. All stations are equipped with radio/telephone communication equipment for easy exchange of information across the entire country. The Divisional offices are all computerized, and there is access to key databases via this medium. The head office has accommodation for consultants working on projects. These facilities are strategically located for training, but the infrastructure needs to be renovated. The GFC has a fleet of road and field vehicles. Infrastructure The Forest Products Marketing and Development Council and the Forestry Training Centre Inc. will also support this project. The GFC s Forest Monitoring Department (FMD) Unit will be the key mean through which contact is made with the appropriate stakeholders, through the GFC s 26 forest stations, contact will be made with stakeholders in this process. Staffing The total existing staff compliment of the GFC is approximately 350 full time staff comprising a mixture of technical forestry experts and non-technical support staff. Technical staffs are both at the senior, middle, and lower level management and also forest technicians. The technical skills of the Commission is very diverse comprising of wood technologist, inventory and mapping specialist, project managers, botanist, forest planners, geographical information systems specialist (GIS), surveyors, cartographer, forest technicians, rangers, monitoring officers, and environmentalist among others. The non-technical support or administrative staffs are also very diverse comprising, accountants, computer programmers, marketing specialists, economist, statistician, human resources specialists, management personnel, and legal and public relations officers. Most of the senior and middle level staff have at least an under-graduate degree. The table presents the breakdown of full time staff. 61