States recognises forests are crucial to Amerindian culture - Sawh tells Caribbean Foresters meeting by Sharon Lall Guyana Chronicle June 14, 2000 GUYANA's indigenous peoples now occupy and have legal title to some 1.4 million hectares of forested land, Fisheries, Crops and Livestock Minister, Mr Satyadeow Sawh said yesterday. To date, there are about 40,000 Amerindians holding that much forested land, he said. "(The) Government of Guyana has always recognised that, above anything else, forests are an integral part of Amerindian culture," the minister said at the opening of the Tenth Caribbean Foresters Meeting. The caucus at Hotel Tower, Georgetown, is the first of its kind to be hosted in Guyana. It attracted some 45 participants from 15 countries across the Caribbean region. Acting President Sam Hinds; Commissioner of Forests, Mr James Singh; Presidential Adviser on Natural Resources, Mr Navin Chandarpal and Mr Ariel Lugo, Director of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), were among the gathering at the opening ceremony. Giving the key address at the conference, Sawh noted that forest resources are, among other things, used by this country's native peoples in making food, medicine, building materials, dyes and fibres used in weaving and the creation of textiles. According to him, the forests occupy about 76.6 per cent (16.5 million hectares) of Guyana's total land area. The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is responsible for the management of 13.6 million hectares classified as State Forest. The remaining 2.9 million hectares are deemed either Amerindian land, State land or private property. Some hinterland communities have undertaken commercial harvesting of the forest resources, the minister said, adding that in such cases the GFC provides technical and financial advice to those stakeholders. The GFC has also been promoting greater consultation between larger timber companies and the local Amerindian and non-Amerindian communities, that either live within or adjacent to forest-leased areas, he added. "The creation of a Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has allowed for a better participatory role for indigenous peoples in forestry related activities. "...As custodians of our people's heritage, we are committed to a partnership for progress and prosperity - a partnership between our investors, our resources and our people," Sawh said. He explained that up to the 1990s, forestry management in Guyana was not done in a very structured and organised manner. There was no "defined strategy" in place and no appropriate policy to guide the utilisation of forest resource in a manner that would assist in economic growth. However, the situation changed with the revision of this country's forest policy and forest legislation, the minister said. In October 1997, a new forest policy was approved and Guyana's forests were from then onwards, considered a "multiple use resource". "...There was a recognition of the need for collaborative approaches to forest management, including close collaboration with communities near to the forest resource... "Indeed, both forest policy and the draft forest legislation, as well as the draft national forest plan, have all been produced after extensive consultation with all stakeholders, including communities," Sawh told delegates. He said although Guyana recognises its "international responsibilities", it is serious about providing resources in an "environmentally and sustainably" sound manner for future generations. "We believe that the rich biodiversity of the forest must be put to use in the interest of the people.... "While we think locally and regionally, the new world dispensation dictates that we act globally," the minister said. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today