These forestry regulations are designed to ensure the proper treatment
of timber
Stabroek News, Sunday, December 2nd 2007
Dear Editor,
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) wishes to clarify some
inaccuracies contained in a letter by Parmanand Bhanu captioned "Some
of the proposed regulations for sawmill operations are impractical and
costly" (07.11.11).
Mr Bhanu states that it is compulsory for all lumber to be dried and
stacked. This is incorrect, the GFC is only recommending that all
timber be stickered and stacked once cut. It is however compulsory for
timber that is to be dressed, to be dried to a particular moisture
content. The standards do not prevent anyone selling or using undressed
green timber, especially the large structural sizes.
Mr Bhanu pronounces that timber for boardwalks has always been fresh
cut, dressed and exported to the US and customers are satisfied with
its performance. However, The Barbados Boardwalk is a typical example
of the failure of Guyanese timber that was not properly dried and
processed. This led to the Barbados Government replacing the entire
original greenheart boardwalk with properly seasoned and processed wood
from another country.
Contrary to what Mr Bhanu states, movement of timber is in all
directions. Even though the rates of moisture movement vary according
to the direction, good quality products must be of standard sizes -
length, width and thickness are all important.
On the issue of treatment of timber, Mr Bhanu mentions several species
and asks why they should be treated; however, of the species he
mentions, only Simarupa is mentioned in the GFC document.
Any piece of simarupa if not treated quickly, is susceptible to blue
stain.
Mr Bhanu assumes that the term "Hard Floor" is restricted to a concrete
floor. In the GFC presentations countrywide, it was emphasized that
hard floor included concrete, bauxite overburden, crusher run, quarry
waste, brick, red brick. The important issue is that the floor is dry,
can facilitate the free movement of machinery and equipment where
applicable, and there is no mud or build up of wooden debris e.g.
sawdust that can later lead to fungal and insect infestations of forest
produce.
If operations are planned properly, operations would not have to close
for eight (8) months as suggested. What producers need to understand is
that the consumer is paying hard earned monies with the expectation of
obtaining a quality product.
Many operators have recognized this and are making efforts to comply
with the GFC requirements, others however, are content to continue
doing business as normal, and supplying sub-standard products at high
prices. This situation must change and as such, the regulations will be
applicable to all operations.
The GFC had requested comments from stakeholders on specific areas of
concern with respect to the standards. Some comments were received, and
the GFC has met with the Forest Products Association (FPA) to discuss
comments of the FPA and other stakeholders. At that meeting it was
suggested amongst other things, that the GFC should exercise some
flexibility especially in relation to sizes of chain sawn wood, from
boards etc. Another meeting with the FPA Technical Committee is
scheduled for Monday December 3, 2007 where these discussions will be
continued.
GFC wishes to reiterate, however, that these standards have been well
publicized at numerous outreach meetings and at individual meetings
with operators. The standards were supposed to have been implemented
since January 2006. To claim that the sector did not have time to
upgrade is therefore totally incorrect. GFC advises that it will
commence enforcement in January 2008.
Yours faithfully,
James Singh
Commissioner of Forests
Guyana Forestry Commission
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