GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana and the United Kingdom on Tuesday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening forest governance, expanding sustainable market access, and deepening climate cooperation under the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate Programme (FGMC2).
The agreement, signed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), formalises an expanded framework of collaboration that builds on decades of partnership grounded in shared environmental priorities and mutual respect.
Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat said the MoU comes at a pivotal moment as global focus intensifies on sustainable forestry and climate resilience. He reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to maintaining one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world and to advancing the national goals outlined in President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 (LCDS 2030).
“This partnership strengthens our technical capacity, reinforces our forest governance systems, and directly supports the national priorities defined under LCDS 2030,” Bharrat said.
Under the agreement, the UK will provide institutional and technical support—facilitated in part through the European Forest Institute’s Rapid Response Programme—to help advance Guyana’s forest oversight mechanisms, including the establishment of the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS). The system is intended to bolster transparency, market credibility, and international confidence in Guyana’s forest products.
British High Commissioner Jane Miller OBE welcomed the enhanced cooperation, noting that Guyana continues to demonstrate global leadership—from the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests to the country’s pioneering carbon markets. “The UK remains committed to partnering with Guyana to address climate and biodiversity challenges that affect us all,” she said.
According to officials, the MoU will deliver tangible benefits for forest-dependent communities by improving market access, strengthening economic opportunities, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of forest resources. It also aligns Guyana’s efforts with major international frameworks, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership, and the Global Biodiversity Alliance.
The Ministry of Natural Resources described the MoU as a model of modern climate diplomacy—one that connects domestic development goals with international support to advance shared global outcomes. Both governments said the renewed cooperation will help safeguard forests, protect biodiversity, and expand sustainable development pathways as Guyana continues to assert its role as a leader in climate action and low-carbon development.