Forest Management Plan Guidelines - April, 1999

This document is a national guideline prepared for forest concession management in Guyana, titled Forest Management Plan Guidelines (April 1999). It sets out the structure and content required for a Forest Management Plan (FMP) and associated operational and annual plans. The guideline frames sustainable forest management as an integration of biological, social and economic considerations, and it specifies objectives for administration, assessment of commercial potential, protection of fragile land and biodiversity, community engagement, revenue optimization consistent with sustainability, and support for research.Key Measures and Action Plans: The guideline prescribes detailed information and procedures to be included in an FMP: company profile and policy; concession location, legal status and boundaries; community presence and socio-economic data; topography, hydrology, geology, soils and climate; vegetation and forest type mapping; management history; infrastructure, roads and bridges; silvicultural systems; forest organisation into productive and non-productive compartments; inventory design (management, pre-harvest and post-harvest); growth and yield analysis; calculation of cutting cycles and annual allowable cut; production scheduling; machinery and harvesting procedures; environmental conservation measures including anti-illicit activity controls, fire, pests, chemical use and biodiversity reserves; markets and utilization; records and mapping requirements.Implementation and Secondary Themes: The guideline details implementation mechanisms such as inventory methodologies, monitoring and research (including permanent sample plots), cooperation with research groups and coordination with other resource users. It emphasizes compliance with the Code of Practice for Forest Operations and GFC audit procedures, outlines mapping and reporting appendices, and specifies roles, timetables and required documentation. Social considerations (training, employment, welfare, consultations and EIA recommendations) and operational recordkeeping are also defined as integral for management and regulatory oversight.