Royal Timbers applies to log on Puruni-Mazaruni concession -impact assessment to be done

Local timber processing company Royal Timbers Inc has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for authorization to conduct logging and sawmilling operations in the PuruniMazaruni Triangle, Mazaruni Potaro District 7.

In an advertisement in the Sunday Chronicle, the EPA invited written submissions on questions from the public that persons will like to see answered during the Environmental Impact Assessment.

The notice stated that company has applied to execute forestry operations within the State Forest Authorisation – State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFASFEP: 02/2020).

The company based in Campbellville, Georgetown in its project summary seen by this newspaper said it holds a concession on the right bank of the Puruni River, west of Puruni Landing. The company’s concession measures 107,670.54 hectares.

Royal Timbers said it is seeking to conduct sustainable operations by developing an integrated logging and sawmilling business. It plans to develop three portable sawmilling facilities within its concession to process the logs harvested.

The EPA noted that the project entails field operations and activities such as the setting up of a Base Camp, Primary Road Alignment, skidding, tree marking, stock map preparation, block demarcation, tree felling and hauling of logs.

It was highlighted that lumber produced will be transported by trucks via the Kartabu-Puruni Road to Itaballi and then shipped to Georgetown and other coastal locations by barge.

“The logs produced within the concession will be converted onsite to lumber. The lumber will then be brought to the coast locations for sale to local merchants or for export in value-added form to merchants overseas,” the project summary said.

The company said that its vision is to “aggressively pursue sustainable forestry and associated infrastructural development in Guyana.” The company plans to employ 75 workers for logging operations. This number includes technicians, tally clerks, machine operators, timber graders, forest monitoring staff and security among others.

The concession was once held by Puruni Wood Products Inc under the SFEP 2004. That company held the concession up to 2007 when its operations were terminated and the area reverted to the Guyana Forestry Commission ( GFC). Earlier this year the GFC advertised the area among others.

Royal Timbers in their EPA application said their concession area falls within

district three of the Mazaruni Mining District and the entire area has been allocated for varied mining claims.

Despite a decline in the forests due to mining in the concession area by 15%, Royal Timbers said they will be able to salvage timber from trees felled and set aside areas to facilitate mining activities. It stated that gold mining activities have contributed to some deforestation.

“There has been a history of mining in the area since the late 1920’s with a particular surge in small scale mining in the past 30 years… About 2,500 persons occupy the concession area: these comprise artisanal, small and medium scale miners as well as merchants trading mainly in fuel and rations,” the company noted in its project summary to the EPA.

It is estimated by the company that they will harvest 17,567.52 M3 of timber from 21 blocks per year.

The company will harvest lumber from a wide range of species using the principles of reduced impact logging. The species include Bulletwood, Crabwood, Greenheart, Huruasa, Kabukalli, Limonaballi, Locust, Manni, Monkey Pot, Mora, Morabukea, Purpleheart, Shibadan, Simarupa, Tatabu, Tauroniro, Tonka-bean, Wamaa, Washiba and Yellow Silverballi.

The company says that from previous projects and work they have gained significant operational experience in working in the hinterland.

Since the project can have various environmental implications, the EPA said that in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20: 05, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required for the development of the proposed project before any decision to either reject or approve it can be made.

As a result, members of the public are invited to make written submissions to the EPA setting out questions and matters they would like to see addressed in the EIA.

A summary of the project can also be viewed on the EPA’s website or uplifted from the Office in Ganges Street, Sophia.