Forestry sector still not fully compliant with new standards

Forestry sector still not fully compliant with new standards
Kaieteur News, 3 January 2007

During 2007, the Commissioner of Forests, James Singh, during several
consultations, had warned stakeholders in the forestry sector to shape
up and comply with new guidelines or face penalties.

Kaieteur News understands that the Forest Producers' Association (FPA)
still has some reservations about certain of the new guidelines,
including the proposed moisture content for certain species of wood.

Singh had told stakeholders during the educational consultation
sessions that the new guidelines were aimed at raising the standards of
the industry.

He had warned the stakeholders that if the industry was not compliant
by 2008, then the GFC would be compelled by law to ensure that it is
done.According to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who addressed
one of the consultation sessions, “Too many times, there have been
reports of non conformity.”

Some of the present shortcomings in the industry that the new
guidelines intend to reverse include the use of primordial sawmilling
machinery with very few spare parts available, resulting in a
significant wastage.

A high percentage of sawn timber produced for the local market is done
in a manner that actually sees the production of few standard sizes
with little timber precision trimmed. As a result, the percentage of
wastage is extremely high in Guyana .

Currently, there are few industrial plants of a reasonable scale or
size.

Mandatory
for 2008

The GFC has mandated all relevant stakeholders in the industry to
ensure that, by this month, all lumber must be sawn with care so as to
obtain the nominal sizes when the moisture content is 20 per cent.
Sawing must be regular for each dimension, over the whole of the piece,
and edges must be parallel and perpendicular to the faces.

From this year, the GFC will give preference to the licensing of
sawmills and processing facilities utilising band saw technology this
is to encourage the automisation of local facilities. Further, sawmills
and sawpits must achieve a set out recovery rate in order to retain
their license, or for new facilities to be licensed

This year, too, there will be a mandatory recovery rate of 50 percent.
The following year it will be increased ten percent, and 2010 will see
a recovery rate of 70 per cent being mandatory.

In 2011 the mandatory recovery rate will jump 15 per cent to 75 per
cent.

As a result of the stipulated recovery rates, chainsaw operations would
only be permitted to process lumber above four inches in thickness. The
commissioner also informed the stakeholders that from 2008 the ends of
all sawn lumber must be waxed or sealed with an appropriate sealant so
as to prevent splitting and end checking from occurring, and all wood
must be stacked under cover as quickly as possible after coming off the
saw.

The storage area must have a hard surface, be well drained, stable, and
free from sawdust and any other wooden debris.

The date of stacking must be marked on each stack of lumber so as to
allow for adequate drying time.

Drying will be compulsory by all sawmills, be it automated or air
drying.