The Office of Climate Change yesterday announced the support of the country’s manufacturers for the draft Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).The Guyana Manufactures and Services Association (GMSA) in a position paper drawn up by Mr. Rustum Bulkan, Chairman of its wood sub-sector group, said the strategy is in accordance with the focal areas pinpointed over the years as essential for the future advancement of this sub-sector.According to the Office of Climate Change (OCC), which has been set up at the Office of the President, Bulkan said the strategy is “very comprehensive” and covers all aspects of the forestry sector.“It will transform the way in which business is done and the approach to economic activities. It is felt that the impact on the economy and society will be one that is indeed transformational: in terms of creating more gainful employment, income generation, social services production, and livelihoods, whilst maintaining the forest resources,” Bulkan was quoted as saying.According to the OCC, Bulkan stated that the enforcement of regulations will be critical for confirming to sustainable forest management (SFM) practices and what Guyana is seeking is a trade for its services in the carbon capture market and not a handout.Bulkan’s position paper notes that one of Guyana’s most valuable assets is its forest resources that cover almost 80% of its land surface and says the contribution to Guyana’s economy can be significantly improved if key sectors are strengthened along a low carbon growth path. The draft LCDS, the paper posits, outlines an approach that addresses both the mitigation and adaptation aspects of climate change, adding that the identification of low carbon economic opportunities potentially offers significant benefits to the manufacturing sub-sector in the form of a cheaper and more reliable source of power (hydro), improvements in the information and communication technology and infrastructure in critical areas targeted for development. “Specifically, the draft LDCS recognizes the importance of moving up the lumber value chain and has outlined key requirements of this proposal…The LCDS recognizes that globally, the export of secondary processed wood products is high and the prices that are gained are significantly higher than that for primary products”, Bulkan is quoted further as saying.He said the LCDS shows good foresight in identifying that new investment in processing activities would facilitate even greater production of higher value wood products.“These would meet international standards for export and would bring new capabilities in waste minimization and recovery, as well as establish important market linkages to enhance export value of processed products.”The GMSA position paper on the LCDS said that along with the investments will be the critical question of training in industrial wood-machining techniques which will create a larger pool of skilled persons,Cheap Shoes Online Free Delivery, thereby benefitting the entire sector.The GMSA also acknowledged the potential impact of the LCDS on local communities is recognized as being of tremendous assistance to the development needs of hinterland areas.“Many communities will be able to attain a higher level of economic sustenance and may be able to access improved social services as a result of incentives gained. This will add to the overall development of our peoples”, the GMSA paper stated.The association has drawn up recommendations for transitional arrangements in implementing the LCDS, the Office of Climate Change stated.
