Guyana signs agreement with EU to strengthen sustainable timber trade

The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), held December 7-19, 2022 in Montreal, Canada facilitated the adoption of the global biodiversity framework which addresses overharvesting, environmental pollution, habitat fragmentation, and unsustainable techniques used in modern agriculture and farming. Following the adoption of the EU Global Gateway strategy, COP 15 welcomed the signing of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) based on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT) with the European Union. As each party ratifies the terms of the agreement, EU-based timber investors and buyers will remain within the ethics of production and purchasing, thereby ensuring forest governance, the prevention of illegal logging and trade facilitation. This agreement was made legally binding through Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat; and European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius. Involved in the co-signing were Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic, Jan Dusík; and the EU Presidency of the Council. As per the VPA, Guyana is slated to employ a timber legality assurance system which governs the supply chain system, and thereon, issue verified legal timber products with FLEGT licences. Not only is Guyana placed in the first five countries worldwide which have enforced a Memorandum of Understanding on a Forest Partnership with the EU, but is now the first country to have signed a VPA of its kind with the entity. According to Mr. Dusík, “This Agreement constitutes a significant contribution to the conservation of Guyana's forests, which is essential for both protecting biodiversity and the fight against climate change. Guyana and the European Union already work together very closely, and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement will strengthen our cooperation and also stimulate good governance and sustainable forest management.”

Source(Image: Department of Public Information (2022), Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission)

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16 Dec 2022 15:15 | by anaraine