WWF, GFC sign addendum for $163M grant for sustainable use of Guyana’s forest resources

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and WWF on Monday signed an addendum for a GY$163 million grant under the EU-Funded Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) programme.

The addendum reflects the shared vision for sustainable use of Guyana’s forest resources. It will help to empower community entrepreneurs in business development and investment decision-making, enhance market access for local communities, and bolster the governance and management capacities of community forestry organisations to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

The partnership between GFC and WWF has already shown promising results, which this addendum builds on through the achievements of the 2024 signed agreement to promote economically viable and sustainable forestry livelihoods in Regions 2 and 10.

This initiative not only aims to improve the socio-economic conditions within forest-dependent communities but also emphasizes the significance of sustainable resource management in the broader context of climate change and environmental protection.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by key stakeholders in the SFL programme, including Mr Edward Goberdhan, Commissioner of GFC; Ms Simone Benn, Community Development Officer of GFC; Mr Daniele de Bernardi of the European Union (EU); Mr Pierre Bourguignon, Country Director for Suriname and Guyana at the French Development Agency (AFD); and Ms Aiesha Williams, Conservation Director, WWF-Guianas.

During the event, stakeholders emphasised the importance of sustainable forest livelihoods, while expressing the need to promote community-level income-generating initiatives to further develop the timber value chain.

As the SFL programme continues to progress, the signing of this addendum represents a significant step toward enhancing communities’ capacity in Guyana to manage their forest resources sustainably.

Expected outputs from this project include the development of business planning tools, improved market assessments, and advanced training modules tailored to community-specific needs. These activities will support, but are not limited to, beneficiaries of direct grants – issued under SFL’s Grant Investment Mechanism – within the timber value chain in Regions 2 and 10.

With the signing of this addendum, the groundwork is being laid for a more sustainable future, fostering economic resilience in forest-dependent communities while preserving and protecting forest ecosystems.