Public consultation: Guyanese forest certification system

31 May 2023 PEFC system news

Stakeholders from around the world are invited to give feedback on the Guyanese Forest Certification Scheme. Deadline for comments is 28 July.

This is the first time the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the PEFC national member for Guyana, has submitted its national system to PEFC for endorsement.

See all system assessment details

After developing the national system in line with PEFC requirements, the Guyana Forestry Commission submitted the system to PEFC for endorsement. The national system is now undergoing the PEFC assessment process, carried out by an independent PEFC Registered Assessor. It must pass this process and be approved by the PEFC General Assembly before it can achieve endorsement.

An important aspect of the assessment process is the public consultation. Over the sixty-day consultation, stakeholders from around the world can give their comments and provide feedback on any aspect of the system. The Registered Assessor will use the information received from this consultation in their assessment of the system.

Need more information?

To provide you with additional information about this new national system, we held a webinar on 30 May at 14:00 CEST. Watch the webinar recording:

PEFC in Guyana

The Guyana Forestry Commission joined the PEFC alliance in 2019, and while the development of the Guyanese national system began in 2019, the process was put on hold due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The process re-commenced in 2021 following a national stakeholder scoping workshop that sought approval of stakeholders to develop the system. 

The system underwent two public consultations and an independent desktop assessment and field testing by an independent assessor. Their Board of Directors, GFC’s highest decision body, approved the system in April 2023, before submitting it to PEFC for assessment.

Maintaining endorsements

For a national system to maintain its endorsement, it must meet a series of endorsement milestones. These milestones are linked to the national periodic review of the system and the sustainable forest management standard.

National systems go through a periodic review five years after their national approval (first endorsement milestone). The periodic review includes a gap analysis, public consultation and consideration of feedback received while the standard is in force.

National approval of the Guyanese forest certification standard: 24 April 2023

Find out more about PEFC ensures national standards continue to meet expectations.