Umbila: Zambézia continues to feature among illegal logging hotspots in Mozambique – O País

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Umbila: Zambézia continues to feature among illegal logging hotspots in Mozambique – O País

9:01 CAT | 10 Dec 2021

Picture: O País

Illegal loggers continue to devastate the forests of Zambézia province.

Although the Gilé National Park buffer zone and containment measures imposed by park supervisors there are providing some respite, there are reports that the southern part of the province is experiencing a new spike of illegal exploitation of Umbila wood.

Our newspaper visited the district of Derre and found two trucks loaded with logs in contravention of forestry sector regulations, which require that wood being transported from the logging area to a yard or other point must be properly labelled to facilitate inspection and guarantee transparency.

One of these trucks was fined by the National Environmental Quality Control Agency (AQUA) as it passed through the district of Derre at night en route from Morrumbala to Nicoadala. It was about to arrive at the N1 and unload at a yard in Nicoadala when authorities interrupted its journey.

When contacted, AQUA delegate in Zambézia, Isac Jalilo, said that the truck was transporting wood from a duly documented national, “but the same [party] logged and was transporting wood that he is not authorised to, because he does not have the proper license”.

On the ground, it appears that, even with allegations of illegal logging, furtive people take no respite, and continue their activities regardless.

Zeca Rosário, whose truck was apprehended, said that the wood had been logged in Morrumbala district, but his truck had broken down in the night, and he was then surprised by AQUA personnel using the same road.

By Jorge Marcos

Source: O País