Dear Editor,
You were kind enough to publish a recent letter of mine (May 25, 2009) relating to the Guyana Forestry Commission’s administration of state forests as well as the Government of Guyana’s active efforts in pursuing direct benefits to be had from pursuing various programmes relating to climate change and forestry, or rather what were criticisms of both.
I wish to follow up given that in the intervening period President Jagdeo has launched a far reaching initiative known as a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and which understandably has been the subject of much scrutiny and public debate.
I will though, in this letter confine my comments to the topic of forest certification and in particular the role of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a leading ‘certifying’ NGO body. As practitioners in the sector, or producers of products made from tropical timbers our experience is that there are no tangible benefits to be gained from compliance with such schemes, given the huge cost required. The only likely ‘benefit’ is market access.
It is clear therefore that schemes such as this are really non-tariff barriers to trade. The huge costs for compliance and endorsement further disadvantage the weak and benefit the strong. I cannot speak for the rest of the world, but as far as Guyana is concerned, entities such as the FSC are but new tools to impoverish societies such as ours.
Stabroek News’ ‘Business Page’ columnist, Mr Christopher Ram, in his most recent article (July 19) makes the following point: “Guyana is fortunate that it is one of the world’s last remaining rainforests with almost 80% of our territory still in its pristine state. This pleasant situation is the result of a combination of factors including the nature of our forests that does not allow the extensive felling of trees, the preservation of the forests by our First People, mostly strong forest management by the regulator going back to fifty years and more…” This is what I alluded to in my earlier letter and now wish to repeat, ie, the Guyana Forestry Commission, whilst it may not be perfect, is working to fulfil its mandate and is implementing policies which will force all operators to conform to best practices.
To come back to this certification question though, it is nothing but a measure to keep out competition, in pursuit of greater profits. We can attest that many companies that proclaim their belief in and commitment to ethnical and moral standards are really only just as interested as those who don’t, in profits.
Do forgive me for selectively quoting from your ‘Business Page’ contributor, but he puts it best when he interprets the government as saying that “the LCDS can have a transformative effect on the country and that under it, the economy will take a new direction in which national development and combating climate change are complementary and not competing objectives.”
President Jagdeo has recognised the opportunity that exists for a country such as ours blessed with large virgin tracts of tropical rainforests, to receive direct compensation for the critical environmental services that Guyana’s forest provide to the world – such as bio-diversity, water regulation and carbon sequestration. His vision and initiative will lead to further positive outcomes.
Yours faithfully,
R Bulkan
Precision Woodworking Limited
