Forests Act 2009 (Act No. 6 of 2009)

The Forests Act 2009 (Act No. 6 of 2009) establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the sustainable management of State forests and conservation of forest resources in Guyana. The Act consolidates and amends previous legislation related to forests, establishing provisions for sustainable forest management, forest conservation, and operations related to forest produce. It introduces governance mechanisms such as forest concession agreements, exploratory permits, use permits, community forest management agreements, and afforestation agreements, overseen by the Guyana Forestry Commission. It includes specific measures for the protection of tree species, fire prevention, timber quality control, and compliance with international standards.