By JAMES KUNDA –
THE Government has suspended the export of timber following an increase in the illegal harvesting and trade in the commodity.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Jean Kapata said yesterday the action has been taken in accordance with Statutory Instrument (SI) number 94 of 2015 on forest regulations to bring sanity to the country’s timber industry.
The action comes just as the national association of sawmillers has been cranking up pressure on the government to lift what it has called prohibitive tariffs on timber exports.
It follows a directive from President Edgar Lungu for the ministry to take steps to address his concerns at the high rate of deforestation which he said currently stood at an alarming 276,021hectares per annum.
The spike in illegal felling of timber has been driven by interest in the mukula tree now been exported to Asian markets. The president directed that all timber extraction and other related activities be conducted within the provisions of the Forests Act number four of 2015.
Ms Kapata told a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that timber export permits would now only be issued for processed wood which sawmillers produced according the customer specifications.
“The export of round wood or logs of any timber tree species, including that from the Mukula tree has been suspended forthwith,” Ms Kapata said. “Timber export permits will only be issued for processed
or sawn timber.”
Ms Kapata said individuals including traditional leaders involved in the vice would not be spared by the law.
She said Government would not permit the movement round wood from any concession area beyond 100 kilometres (km) and perpetrators of illegal timber harvesting and trade will be brought to book.
Ms Kapata warned that any logs that will be found in transit outside the stipulated radius would be impounded and any public officer found to have facilitated such movements disciplined.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has been directed to ensure that the new law was adhered to by the public.
Ms Kapata said the ministry last month held a consultative meeting with provincial ministers to brainstorm interventions to the vice at a decentralised level.
She said to enhance control at a decentralised level, she, in accordance with the Forests Act, delegated the functions of control on the harvesting and trade of timber to the provincial ministers who should work with provincial joint operation committees in curbing the scourge.
Ms Kapata called for concerted efforts of stakeholders to curb illegal cutting and export of round wood and partnerships with Government to promote sustainable forest management to give full benefit of the resources to the local people.