Two forest exploratory permits held by controversial logging company Baishan-lin covering 134 316 hectares of forest in Regions Nine and Six have reverted back to the State.
“Two SFEPs (State Forest Exploratory Per-mits) have not been renewed,” head of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Board, Jocelyn Dow, confirmed to Stabroek News yesterday. “Technically speaking, they have expired,” she said noting that one expired yesterday. “Those lands are back under State control,” she said.
Stabroek News understands that the company had not moved to fulfill the requirements under the SFEP. In June last year, it had submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental authorisation to undertake large scale logging in parts of Regions Six and Nine.