Project/activity information

This one-year project aims to increase the overall contribution of the forest sector to the national economy by improving the awareness and use of lesser used species. The project will focus on gathering technological information on lesser used species; more promotion of current and potential lesser used species and training in processing techniques of these species. It is also expected that the capacity building aspect of the project would not only improve the processing techniques used for these species but also improve the quality of the product. The key beneficiaries would be: the forest industry (includes producers and manufacturers); local communities and academic forestry programmes involved in the forestry sector.

This project will build on the recommendations from the ITTO Diagnostic Mission to Guyana in 2003 and on the work already started by the Guyana Forestry Commission on the promotion of lesser used species in Guyana. The objectives of the project are also linked with a project recently approved by the ITTO on ‘Strengthening the Capacity to Market Exports of Forest Products from Guyana’.