The European Union-funded Sustainable Forest Livelihoods (SFL) programme in Guyana has marked a significant milestone with the commissioning of a new portable sawmill facility, equipping the 164-member Upper Berbice Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd (UBMCSL) with the tools to add value to its timber resources and strengthen its forest-based enterprise.
The highlight of the commissioning ceremony was the handover of an LT70 portable sawmill, valued at approximately $18 million, together with nearly $4.7 million worth of joinery equipment, office supplies, personal protective equipment, and other timber-processing tools.
The investment is paired with training that UBMCSL members have completed in 2024 in reduced-impact logging, forest decision-making, and administration and record-keeping, along with support to finalise an operational and business plan to guide the sawmill’s day-to-day operations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Conservation Director at World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Guianas, Aiesha Williams, framed the milestone as a demonstration of partnership in practice. “This facility did not happen because of the efforts of one organisation alone,” Williams said.
“It happened because communities brought their vision, resources and commitment, the Guyana Forestry Commission [GFC] provided leadership and technical support, the European Union provided financing and commitment, and WWF worked alongside these partners to help turn that vision into reality.”
The second component of the commissioning ceremony was the handover of the Community Forest Management Plan, covering 18 small concessions spanning roughly 98,070 hectares, marking an important step toward achieving their sustainable forestry livelihood goals. The 2025–2028 plan lays out how UBMCSL will balance sustainable forest use, member livelihoods, and biodiversity protection across its concessions.
In his remarks at the ceremony, the Commissioner of Forests, Edward Goberdhan, said, “The establishment of this sawmill and joinery shop provides an opportunity for the UBMCSL to move further along the timber value chain from the harvesting of forest resources to processing, value addition and the creation of products that can generate greater economic returns for community members. With support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Forestry Commission, the group has invested approximately $20 million in seeing this project to fruition. This is a testament to their dedication to sustainable forest management and economic development. As a partner, the Guyana Forestry Commission will continue to play a critical role in providing technical guidance and supporting development within forest-dependent communities.”
The commissioning also points to further support ahead: UBMCSL is expected to receive a log loader worth approximately $19 million through the SFL Grant Investment Mechanism, a competitive grant window open to forest-based communities, Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), and entrepreneurs in the timber and nature-based tourism sectors across Regions Two and 10.
Launched in mid-2025, the mechanism drew 50 project proposals, of which 12 were shortlisted for further development; WWF is now preparing to sign the first of these grant agreements, with UBMCSL positioned as a leading candidate.
Speaking at the ceremony, EU Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni, underscored the wider significance of the investment. “This milestone is about much more than commissioning a piece of equipment. It is about investing in people, strengthening local enterprises, and demonstrating that sustainable forest management can create lasting economic opportunities while protecting one of Guyana’s greatest natural assets.” He noted that this partnership reflects the shared commitment to ensuring that healthy forests continue to provide opportunities for present and future generations.
The SFL programme, implemented by WWF-Guianas in partnership with the GFC since 2024, supports the goals of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) by strengthening sustainable forest management and adding value to local forest products. Beyond equipment and infrastructure, the programme’s design channels support through national and local institutions – including the GFC and cooperatives like UBMCSL – to sustain benefits for communities well beyond the programme’s lifespan. The event closed with a live demonstration of the portable sawmill in operation.
For UBMCSL, the sawmill commissioning represents a step toward the cooperative’s own stated vision: a multiple-use forest that generates value-added products while sharing benefits among its members, their community, and future generations.
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