Almost 3,000 cubic metres of illegal wood seized

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Almost 3,000 cubic metres of illegal wood seized

7:49 CAT | 03 May 2017

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Despite a total ban on logging in the central and northern provinces, illegal loggers are continuing to devastate Mozambique’s forests.

Last week alone, in the western province of Tete, brigades from the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development seized almost 3,000 cubic metres of illegally felled timber, according to a report carried by the independent television station STV.

Addressing a meeting in Tete with staff from the sector, the Ministry’s General Inspector, Emilia Fumo, said: “Right now, although no logging or transport of wood is being licensed, some 2,800 cubic metres of wood was found in eight timber yards in this province”.

She said clandestine logging is possible because of the connivance of some forest wardens, and she promised that measures will be taken to stop the frenzied exploitation of the country’s timber resources.

Fumo was also concerned at the falsification of documents by timber operators. She had come across one case where an operator had been authorized to transport 70 cubic metres of wood, but it was found that he had used this authorization to move 800 cubic metres – more than ten times the authorized amount.

She urged citizens to denounce to the authorities any forest warden found involved in schemes of corruption.

Source: AIM