Why Mozambican timber operators reject the sale of the wood seized in Operation Tronco

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Why Mozambican timber operators reject the sale of the wood seized in Operation Tronco

10:27 CAT | 15 Mar 2017

O País

The Mozambican Association of Timber Operators (AMOMA) has congratulated those behind the recent “Operation Tronco”, but argues that the seized wood should be burnt as a way of discouraging those involved.

The organization says that incineration “constitutes in itself a mild measure, but among several, the recommended one”. It also goes on to point out that the less transparent sale of timber seized by the authorities itself encourages illegal exploitation.

“In this way, AMOMA reiterates its support for the government initiative shown in Operation Tronco and on a continuous basis, until the last wrongdoer and his mentors are dealt with,” the organization, created in 2011, says.

The association states that the high volumes of timber seized by the authorities involved in the Operation Tronco were cut during the closed season, despite all the legislation on the maturation period of the raw material.

“Mentors and perpetrators of this type of abuse show clearly that the measures taken by the government are not enough to discourage them. On the contrary, they constitute a means of legalizing unlawfulness and of laundering the proceeds of illegal exploitation of this resource,” AMOMA explains.

Source: O País