As Guyana prepares for the 2026 rollout of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensing, the Ministry of Labour has stepped up its engagement with forest sector operators, hosting its second major outreach session for stakeholders in Region 6.

The session, organized in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission’s FLEGT Secretariat and supported by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Insurance Scheme, is part of a national effort to ensure that all operators are ready to meet the legal and operational requirements for accessing both local and European Union (EU) timber markets.

During the outreach, Labour Officer Denise Duncan and technical representatives from partner agencies provided critical guidance on compliance with labour standards, environmental regulations, and social security obligations—key components of the FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between Guyana and the EU. These standards are designed to promote sustainable forest management, combat illegal logging, and guarantee that timber exported from Guyana is sourced legally.

The licensing system, once implemented, will offer verified assurance to EU buyers, boosting the competitiveness of Guyanese timber products on the international stage. The outreach also aimed to build awareness and capacity among operators, ensuring they are well-positioned to benefit from improved market access when FLEGT licenses become mandatory.

Additional outreach sessions are planned across other forest-based regions as Guyana accelerates its preparations for full FLEGT VPA implementation. The government and its partners remain committed to equipping the sector with the knowledge and tools needed to comply with international legality standards and to secure the long-term sustainability and prosperity of Guyana’s forest industry.