Major Advances Toward Iwokrama Timber Harvesting

Linsford LaGoudou inspecting a large kabukalli tree.

Timber EIA Public Review Concluded
The public review period of the timber business Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that began on the 29th May 2004 with the EIA submission to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and corresponding public announcements, formally ended on the 28th July 2004. The 60-day public review period is provided for in the Environmental Protection Act of 1996. The independent public hearings by the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB), which was established under the Act for review and advising EPA on EIA’s, were held on the 1st July in Georgetown and 3rd July in Annai. Iwokrama is awaiting the findings of the review by the EAB.

Issues raised by persons during the review period centred on effects to the environment, and in particular how harvesting will affect the non-timber forest values in the Iwokrama Forest. Interest was also expressed in the business arrangements that will be put in place to achieve the triple bottom line: social, ecological, and economic sustainability.

The EIA, produced with assistance from WWF-Guianas Programme (part of World Wildlife Fund for Nature), is a comprehensive picture of the proposed timber harvesting operation. This study contained detailed information about the environmental impacts, community consultations, forestry management plan and marketing analyses. The EIA was informed by extensive consultation with stakeholders on social, economic, and environmental matters that could affect the design of the project.

>Read the EIA documents (Click link at left of target page)

Operational Inventories for Timber Harvesting
Iwokrama’s operational inventories for timber harvesting got underway on the 24th June 2004. Under the direction of the Forest Manager, three five-man crews consisting of Iwokrama Rangers, University of Guyana students, and workers from the North Rupununi received their first training in "Reduced Impact Logging" procedures for block layout, line cutting and tree enumeration.

The process involves cutting and marking the boundaries of the 100 hectare (247 acres) harvesting blocks, as well as inventory lines at 50 metre (164 feet) intervals through the blocks. Then, all commercial trees are enumerated (species, diameter, log length, quality) and their coordinates, with reference to the block and strip lines, are recorded for mapping purposes. The end result will be a complete stocking map, which will be produced in the GIS, and will serve for detailed harvesting planning including road and skid trail layout.

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The area selected for the first harvesting operation is the 630 hectare (1,557 acres) Management Unit #7 in the Essequibo Compartment (see map). This area is rich in Greenheart*, Purpleheart**, Wamaradan, and Kakaralli. The work is expected to take about 3 months to complete.

*Greenheart (Chlorocardium rodiei), found only in the Guiana Shield, has dark, greenish and extremely durable wood. It is harvested for worldwide use in bridges, walkways, and other construction projects where fresh or salt water is a concern; also used locally in home building.

**Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp.) is a native tropical American tree that is prized for its deep purplish chestnut color and its wood is used in furniture, doors, and crafts.

Background: Iwokrama Timber Products
As one component of its mission, Iwokrama's International Board of Trustees (IBOT), made a policy decision on 13th January 2004, to undertake the business of timber harvesting; "… the Trustees of the Board of the Iwokrama Centre RESOLVED that the Centre’s management will pursue timber operations within the Iwokrama Forest Sustainable Utilization Area to harvest not more than 15,000 cubic metres per annum in the first year through a business partnership involving local communities and private sector and using mobile band mills".

The timber enterprise, currently known as Iwokrama Timber Products, will be implemented in accordance with the intent of the Iwokrama Act, the requirements of the GFC's Code of Practice and Forest Management Guidelines (1999), and other pertinent Guyana policies and legislation. The intent is to also have the operations certified according to the National Standards for Forest Certification and the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Business arrangements will be in accord with the Iwokrama Act and will include a shareholding agreement between private sector partners yet to be determined, and a representative body from local communities directly involved in the collaborative management of the Iwokrama Forest. Iwokrama currently recognises the North Rupununi District Development Board as that representative body. Iwokrama will retain an exclusive “golden share”; a veto right over certain aspects of the partnership.

The project will be commissioned within two years with an estimated capital investment of about US$1.4 million. The employment potential is about 70 persons. Once the operation becomes established, there will be scope for appropriate expansion over the next five years.