SFL Supports Forestry Cooperative Society with new Forestry Management Plan and Timber Facility
The European Union (EU)-Funded SFL programme in Guyana marked a major achievement with the commissioning of a new timber processing facility, equipping the 164-member Upper Berbice Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd (UBMCSL) to add value to its timber and strengthen its forest-based enterprise.
At the centre of the commissioning ceremony was the handover of an LT70 portable sawmill, valued at approximately GYD 18 million, alongside close to GYD 4.7 million in joinery equipment, office supplies, personal protective gear, and other timber processing tools. The investment is paired with training UBMCSL members have completed since 2024 in reduced impact logging, forest decision-making, and administration and record-keeping, along with support to finalise an operational and business plan to guide the sawmill's day-to-day running.
The ceremony, held in Kwakwani, brought together community members and leaders, and the partners behind the Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) programme, including the EU Ambassador, His Excellency Luca Pierantoni; Edward Goberdhan, Commissioner of the GFC; Anton Thom, Chairman of UBMCSL; Simone Benn, GFC/SFL Project Lead; Aiesha Williams, Conservation Director at WWF-Guianas; and Sara Henry, SFL Country Programme Coordinator in Guyana.
The second component of the commissioning ceremony was the presentation of the Community Forest Management Plan, covering 18 small concessions spanning roughly 98,070 hectares, which was formally handed over to the Upper Berbice Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, marking an important step forward in achieving their sustainable forestry livelihood goals. The 2025–2028 plan sets out how UBMCSL will balance sustainable forest use, member livelihoods, and biodiversity protection across its concessions.
Speaking at the ceremony, Aiesha Williams, Conservation Director at WWF-Guianas, framed the milestone as a demonstration of partnership in practice. "This facility did not happen because of the efforts of one organisation alone," Williams said. "It happened because communities brought their vision, resources and commitment, the Guyana Forestry Commission provided leadership and technical support, the European Union provided financing and commitment, and WWF worked alongside these partners to help turn that vision into reality."
In his remarks at the ceremony, the Commissioner of Forests, Mr Edward Goberdhan, said: “The establishment of this sawmill and joinery shop provides an opportunity for the UBMCSL to move further along the timber value chain from the harvesting of forest resources to processing, value addition and the creation of products that can generate greater economic returns for community members. With support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Forestry Commission, the group has invested approximately 20 million GYD in seeing this project to fruition. This is a testament to their dedication to sustainable forest management and economic development. As a partner, the Guyana Forestry Commission will continue to play a critical role in providing technical guidance and supporting development within forest-dependent communities.”
The commissioning also points to further support ahead: UBMCSL is expected to receive a log loader worth approximately GYD 19 million through the SFL Grant Investment Mechanism, a competitive grant window open to forest-based communities, CBOs, and entrepreneurs in the timber and nature-based tourism sectors across Regions 2 and 10. Launched in mid-2025, the mechanism drew 50 project proposals, of which 12 were shortlisted for further development; WWF is now preparing to sign the first of these grant agreements, with UBMCSL positioned as a leading candidate. The event closed with a live demonstration of the portable sawmill in operation.
Speaking at the ceremony, EU Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni, underscored the wider significance of the investment. “This milestone is about much more than commissioning a piece of equipment. It is about investing in people, strengthening local enterprises, and demonstrating that sustainable forest management can create lasting economic opportunities while protecting one of Guyana’s greatest natural assets.” He noted that this partnership reflects the shared commitment to ensuring that healthy forests continue to provide opportunities for present and future generations.
The SFL programme, implemented by The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and executed by WWF-Guianas in partnership with the GFC since 2024, supports the goals of Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) to strengthen sustainable forest management and add value to local forest products. Beyond equipment and infrastructure, the programme's design channels support through national and local institutions — including the GFC and cooperatives like UBMCSL — with the aim of sustaining benefits for communities well beyond the programme's own lifespan.
For UBMCSL, commissioning the timber processing facility represents a step toward the cooperative's stated vision: a multiple-use forest that generates value-added products while sharing benefits among its members and their community.
