Natural resources: Zambézia communities demand increase in timber exploitation and conversion fees

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Natural resources: Zambézia communities demand increase in timber exploitation and conversion fees

3:27 CAT | 03 Jun 2022

Image: Noticias

Members of natural resources management committees in Zambézia province are complaining of a failure to channel the required 20% fee on timber exploitation.

Those concerned say that some of the stakeholders in the sector not only fail to channel the exploitation fee to the management committees, but also fail to honour their promises of social responsibility actions.

Communities also demand that the current 20% fee be raised to 30%, and that they have more say in decision-making on the entry of operators.

Members of the management committee are urging the state to create a mechanism forcing those exploiting forestry resources, especially loggers, to comply more stringently with concession agreements.

Jaime Nlia, leader of the natural resources management committee in Mocuba, who proposed the readjustment of the fee, is asking that the matter be included in the proposed forestry law, now in the public consultation phase.

Nlia is disappointed that the money paid over in fees never reaches certain communities, although timber harvesting proceeds non-stop.

Source: Noticias