National Revised Forest Policy Statement and Plan caters for GSDS, climate change fight- Min. Harmon
– emphasises forests as “cornerstone of national patrimony”
– public sensitisation programme to be conducted
DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, May 24, 2018
Guyana’s commitment to the Green State Development Strategy and combating climate change was considered in the crafting of the National Revised Forest Policy Statement and Plan 2018, which was recently approved by the Cabinet.
The two documents were submitted by Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman and according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, the documents also reflect efforts to move away from valuing our forests simply for its wood.
“To emphasise that, it is a cornerstone of our national patrimony providing a host of products and services that lend themselves to the achievement of a good life for all our people”, Minister Harmon stated at today’s post Cabinet press conference.
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) will conduct a public sensitisation programme on the statement and plan. Guyana’s National Forest Policy Statement was drafted in 1997 with an accompanying framework document, namely the Draft National Forest Plan in 2001.
The Statement outlines the national goals and ideals for the sustenance and use of the forest resources, while the National Forest Plan provides the methods by which these broad objectives would be pursued and achieved.
Further, Minister Harmon announced that the annual report of the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission for 2017 will be laid in the National Assembly following Cabinet’s recent approval.
The Commission was established under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2016 replaced the Wildlife Division and is responsible for the protection, conservation, management, sustainable use and internal and external trade of the country’s wildlife.
By: Stacy Carmichael