ABOUT US
Guyana is situated on the northeastern coast of South America, in between Venezuela which lies to its west and Suriname (Dutch Guiana) on its east. Guyana has an area of 214,970 km2 of which nearly seventy-five percent is covered with natural vegetation. Of this area, approximately four fifths is classified as State Forests under the jurisdiction of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).
OUR MISSION
To provide excellence in forestry management services to our stakeholders through the application of professional skills to contribute to our nation’s development.
VISION
To be a dynamic and professional Forestry Commission highly respected by local and international stakeholders.
FUNCTIONS OF THE GUYANA FORESTRY COMMISSION (GFC)
The GFC is responsible for advising the subject Minister on issues relating to forest policy, forestry laws and regulations. The Commission is also responsible for the administration and management of all State Forest land. The work of the Commission is guided by a National Forest Plan that has been developed to address the forest policy.
The Commission 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 forest education and training. See departments for a list of departments in the GFC. The GFC is governed by a board of directors appointed by the President. The board is responsible for the performance of the functions conferred on the Commission by the Act.
How timber trade deal talks with EU improved governance in Guyana
The process of negotiating a timber-trade deal with the EU has improved forest governance in Guyana, and more gains are expected as implementation gets underway. “There is now a greater awareness of forests and greater appreciation for them,” says James Singh, Head of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC). “People have…
Pomeroon-Supenaam forest operators’ welcome implementation of Environmental Authorisation
─ EPA to conduct similar exercises countrywide DPI, Guyana, Friday, January 4, 2019 Small forest operators in the Pomeroon-Supenaam were today enlightened about the need to have an Environmental Authorisation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held an interactive workshop to educate them on this critical requirement for operating in the…
High hopes for Guyana-EU partnership on legal timber trade
On a cool grey day in Belgium last month, a group of visitors from Guyana gathered at Antwerp port and imagined a future in which their country’s timber products flow freely into the EU, bypassing red tape because every item has been verified to be legal. “The visit was very…
Historic EU-FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement Initialled
The European Union Forest Law, Enforcement, Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) was initialled at a special ceremony at Berlaymont Hall in Brussels, Belgium on November 23rd, 2018, and followed by a reception for participants and special invitees. The initialling was done by Minister of Natural Resources Hon.…