Georgetown, Guyana – July 29, 2025 — The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) today hosted a formal opening ceremony at the GFC Multiplex to welcome a twelve-member Liberian delegation, marking the commencement of a week-long learning exchange on forestry governance and sustainability.

The exchange initiative, organized by the GFC through its FLEGT Secretariat with support from the European Forest Institute (EFI) and the UK’s Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) Programme, aims to foster collaboration, peer learning, and experience-sharing on key forestry issues. Topics include carbon trading, forest partnerships, financial sustainability, and the implementation of Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA) under the EU FLEGT Action Plan.

The Liberian delegation comprises representatives from critical institutions driving Liberia’s forest governance framework, including the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees (NUCFDC), Liberia Chainsaw and Timber Dealers Union (LICSATDUN), and Heritage Partners and Associates (HPA). The team is led by Honourable Philip C. Parker Jr. III, Chairperson of the FDA Board of Directors and Chair of the Liberia Implementation Committee (LIC).

During the ceremony, GFC’s Commissioner of Forests, Edward Goberdhan, and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Her Excellency Jane Miller OBE, delivered warm welcome remarks to the visiting delegation. Hon. Philip C. Parker Jr. III expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Guyana for their hospitality and commitment to regional forestry collaboration.
Vanessa Benn, Chairperson of the GFC Board of Directors, officially opened the program with inspiring remarks, emphasizing the importance of South-South learning partnerships in advancing sustainable forest management across the region.
The opening session included a comprehensive overview of Liberia’s forestry sector, providing context for upcoming technical engagements and site visits scheduled through July 31.

This exchange underscores the growing cooperation between African and Caribbean nations on climate-resilient forest governance, highlighting the shared challenges and opportunities in balancing conservation and community development.