Nampula province continues to top the list of regions with the most furtive loggers in Mozambique, due to the recent large competition because of the provinces substantial wood resources. Throughout the first quarter of 2014, the Provincial Services of Forests and Wildlife (SPFFB) seized at least eight trucks containing freshly cut logs, mostly belonging to Chinese citizens who used fraudulent schemes in obtaining the wood. The depletion of various wood species in Nampula province is led mostly by Chinese citizens who often involve Mozambicans in illegal exploitation. Jornal @Verdade came across an individual of Chinese origin, whose name we were unable to determine, at the SPFFB office paying a fine of 1,500,000 meticais (approx. $49,000) because one of his vehicles was caught transporting wood illegally. The vehicle was seized in one of the districts of Nampula province where wood exploitation is rife. Just last month (May), another individual of Chinese origin also paid a fine for violating the rules for use of various forest species. The individual paid 750,000 meticais (approx.$24,000). These are just a couple of the cases in an infinite universe of forest depletion. The unbridled wood exploitation, which is done with the complicity of some community members, is a very real reality in Mozambique. The schemes used have, at times, cost some of the SPFFB inspectors who try to stop this practice their lives. Information obtained by @Verdade tells of an inspector, working in Memba district, who was premeditatedly hit and killed by a car when he tried to stop a vehicle carrying wood to the port city of Nacala. As a way to escape the inspectors, the pilferers use routes specially created for the purpose of removing wood from forests at night. Data collected by SPFFB at the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture in Nampula show that some species of wood, such as ironwood and rosewood, are becoming scarce due to the deforesting registered in past years as a result of their commercial value in the international market. Contrary to previous years when dozens of trees were felled and taken to other locations via the port of Nacala, the current scenario has changed. Now, the preferred market is Maputo province and shipyards belonging to Chinese citizens. It is common to see huge trucks loaded with various types of wood, freshly removed from the forest, moving through the streets of Nampula city en route to Maputo. Also according to our sources, due to these factors, the extractors can only have access to a permit for the logging of 100 cubic meters of ironwood and rosewood. For other wood species, it is permitted to extract 500 cubic meters. The buffer zone of the Mecuburi reserve was invaded by loggers and, as a result, many species of wood are near extinction. These species near extinction are namely rosewood and ironwood, which are incidentally also the most popular. Besides Mecuburi, the districts of Murrupula, Muecate, Mogovolas, Malema, Ribáuè, Meconta, Eráti, Nacaroa, Memba, among others are additional regions with ample forest resources.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 03:54:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015