The Guyana Standard for Sustainable Forest Management

This standard establishes environmental, economic, social, and cultural requirements to support the sustainable management of Guyana’s natural forests and meet global market demands. The voluntary framework applies across State forest authorisations, private lands, and Amerindian Villages engaged in commercial forestry, while excluding commercial forest plantations. Operators must comply with national legislation, respect customary and traditional land rights, and obtain Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) before conducting operations on Amerindian lands.
Operational guidelines require adherence to the national Wood Tracking System, Annual Allowable Cut limits, and International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. These provisions guarantee fair wages, non-discrimination, safe working conditions (OHS), dispute resolution protocols, and prohibitions on child and forced labor. Additionally, operators must maintain structured management systems, such as Forest Management Plans or Area Work Plans, backed by regular internal audits and management reviews.
Environmental protections focus on Reduced Impact Logging (RIL), capping natural forest conversion at five percent, setting aside 4.5 percent of productive forest areas for biodiversity, and banning genetically modified trees as well as hazardous pesticides. Alongside protecting soil and water resources, operators are required to boost local economies, respect cultural sites, and ensure public access rights to State forests. Oversight and execution are managed by the Guyana Forestry Commission as the standardising body, in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.