Forest Value Hubs Officially Launched in Georgetown

May 12, 2025

Forest Value Hubs Officially Launched in Georgetown

A systemic collaboration to improve Guyana’s timber and non-timber product value chains

On Monday, May 13, 2025, the Guyana Forest Value Hubs Project was officially launched at an event hosted at the residence of the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Her Excellency Jane Miller. The event marked the formal start of the initiative that reimagines how forests in Guyana can be conserved by creating additional value through collaboration.

The launch event brought together key stakeholders from the government, civil society, indigenous community representatives, private sector innovators, and local implementation partners. The gathering celebrated the beginning of a collaborative effort to design how economic and social value can be created from Guyana’s forests.

“This is not only about protecting forests, but about unlocking new opportunities for people, especially in forest and coastal communities. The United Kingdom (UK) has been working in the forestry sector for decades. And I'm incredibly proud of the work we've done in Guyana. And we see this as another step forward in our collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission, but also the communities, to solve an issue that has been (talked about) many times. How can communities really add value and enhance value to their sustainable management of large forest areas?” said Jane Miller in her opening remarks.

The launch event provided a platform for partners to share their vision for the next 18 months (the project duration time) and beyond, and emphasized that the Forest Value Hubs Project is as much about building relationships and collaboration as it is about infrastructure or training.

About the Project

Event Highlights

The launch event underscored several themes, including:

Collaboration: Project leads emphasized the importance of multi-sector collaboration across government agencies, the private sector, indigenous knowledge and groups, and international partners.
Innovation: From kiln drying to design mentorship to circular economy practices, speakers stressed the need for creative and adaptive solutions for timber and non-timber forest sectors.
Inclusion: Participants focused on the importance of involving youth, women, and remote forest communities in value-added forestry.
Sustainability: The event reiterated Guyana’s leadership in sustainable forestry and set the tone for how economic growth and ecological conservation can move forward together.