Iwokrama in talks for partnership arrangements

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56523411

Iwokrama in talks for partnership arrangements
Stabroek News
Thursday, June 28th 2007

Guyana could see trading in carbon credits becoming a reality if
Iwokrama and a UK company are able to conclude negotiations
successfully.

A release from the sustainable development organisation said yesterday
that the Iwokrama Board of Trustees, at its meeting in London last
week, approved the opening of negotiations with International Forest
Products Corporation (IFP), a major US-owned trader of forest products.

In the press release, Iwokrama said IFP is keen on purchasing and
marketing under the Iwokrama brand the forest's annual sustainable
timber harvest. "The trustees also agreed there should be discussions
with an important UK company, Carbon Capital Limited, which creates and
manages investments in the carbon economy, about a possible carbon
facility for Iwokrama in accordance with Guyana's national guidelines,"
the release said.

Iwokrama said there was a lot of hard work ahead to secure agreements
reached at the meeting but the trustees have set September 30 for their
successful completion and for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
certification of Iwokrama's forest.

Dr David Singh, Iwokrama's Director General said the successful
conclusion of these negotiations was dependent on the continued hard
work and commitment of staff and partners in Guyana. Iwokrama's
partnerships with the local communities, as well as with the state
agencies and the private sector, underpinned the Iwokrama brand and
would be positive factors in meeting the deadline the trustees have
set.

Other possible partnership arrangements were also identified for early
progress including cooperation with Marks and Spencer and the
University of Newcastle.