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On the 7th of July 2005, the International Board of Trustees (IBOT) of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development (Iwokrama or the Centre), "RESOLVED that the Centre’s management will pursue timber operations within the Iwokrama Forest Sustainable Utilization Area to harvest not more than 20,000 cubic metres per annum in the first year through a business partnership involving local communities and the private sector;". This will be accomplished through the JVC which is intended to be a global model for timber harvesting, demonstrating environmental sustainability, social sensitivity, and economic viability. ITI will adopt a phased approach to the development of their sustainable forest management model. The first phase (engaging a partner to form the JVC) will test models of governance, planning, harvesting and management. At the same time it will allow Iwokrama to acquire practical experience in establishing, managing and operating a certified timber harvesting operation. Iwokrama will begin implementation of the second phase concurrently with phase one. Over the next five years Iwokrama will continue to promote and market the opportunities for investing in ITI, with the intent of improving the industry through value adding and the involvement of local communities. The second phase will see the JVC involved in on-site processing of value-added forest products and the development of high-value, low-volume niche markets in the global market place. Governance was Iwokrama's primary business initiative for 2006. It has largely been developed through funding from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). The aim of this initiative is consistent with Iwokrama's mission: that includes demonstrating a model of protected area timber extraction that demonstrates environmental sustainability, social and cultural sensitivity, and economic viability. In February 2007 Iwokrama established a Joint Venture Company (JVC) between its subsidiary ITI (Iwokrama Timber Inc) and Tigerwood Guyana Inc (TGI). This JVC is known as Iwokrama Sustainable Timber Inc. (ISTI). An Environmental and Forestry Management Plan (E&FMP) or 5-year plan has been prepared for that portion of the Iwokrama Forest designated for timber harvesting and referred to as the Net Operable Area (NOA). The JVC will have an initial duration of five years with an option for renewal for an additional five years. In this venture ITI will maintain majority voting shares for purposes of control, while TGI will have financial shareholding (voting or non-voting) commensurate to their investment. The communities will be shareholders in ITI at a level that reflects the relationship that they have with the Iwokrama Forest. Although the plan covers a period of five years, certain matters such as annual allowable cut have a much longer horizon. Future 5-year plans will be based on monitoring and feedback of ecological, social and economic information obtained from monitoring programmes. Iwokrama will obtain forest certification in order to take advantage of broadened and niche markets that require such certification; whilst demonstrating best practice in sustainable forest management. A monocyclic silvicultural system that involves felling only a few of the commercial trees in an area (selective logging) will be employed, utilizing a 60-year cutting cycle. The maximum annual harvesting area has been calculated to be approximately 1,800 ha per year or 36,000 m3/year using the Guyana Forestry Commission’s maximum allowable cut of 20 m3/hectare in the NOA. For the duration of this Plan, based on an estimated average sustainably harvestable commercial volume of 18.7 m3/ha and The JVC’s mandate to harvest only 20,000 m3/year, or 100,000 m3 over the plan period, the average annual harvesting area will be about 1,068 hectares or a five-year total of 5,341 ha. Upon completion of harvesting activities, felling blocks will be closed down and the environment directly affected will be rehabilitated to the extent that is practicable. During the first three years of this plan, the JVC will clear and develop a forest products processing and base camp site, in an area of non-productive Dakama Forest on white sand, off the Linden-Lethem road about 8 km south of Kurupukari crossing. Depending upon a number of business factors that will be assessed by the JVC corporate structure, the harvesting operations equipment may be located at sites remote from the base camp. Forest products will be transported via the Linden-Lethem road. Secondary road development into the forest could extend up to 15 km; feeder road development up to 22.5 km, and only one major bridge will be constructed during the first 5 years of operations following the GFC’s Code of Practice. There are approximately 4,500 people living in 16 villages south of the Iwokrama Forest in Region 9, about 90% of whom are Amerindian. This potential labour base is readily accessible via the north-south road connector to Lethem. Preferential employment will be given to residents of local communities. The JVC will implement the most effective delivery of on-going training. The natural ecosystem is rich in flora and fauna. Iwokrama and the JVC will implement practices and take measures that accord with the Guyana National Initiative for Forest Certification (GNIFC), National Standards for Forest Management (such as the Code of Practice and other GFC requirements) and those of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), to conserve and protect the ecosystem. With this commitment, ecosystem effects are predicted to be mainly temporary and acceptable. Monitoring programmes will be in place to observe effects leading to changes in operations as required. The Centre is also assisting the IUCN and the ITTO to test Biodiversity Convention Guidelines in a productive forest. These guidelines will be used by the international community to access the extent to which productive forests are able to maintain biological diversity. These guidelines will be integrated into the Centre’s management planning programme. The JVC will integrate its security plans with those of Iwokrama, which has implemented regular monitoring and patrolling routines to ensure that illegal mining, forestry, hunting, or fishing activities do not take place within the Forest. Management plans for fire protection, control of pests and diseases and use of chemicals are being prepared. An environmental contingency plan has been outlined and response capabilities will be available.
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