Forestry Commission information and communications manager, Abednigo Marufu, described the rate of deforestation as alarming, saying if the trend continued, the country would have all forests wiped out. Something needs to be done to save our forests that are dwindling. Imagine if we are to lose 300 000 hectares of forest for the next 10 years, we are going to be left with nothing, he said. He said the new statutory instrument was aimed at curbing wood poaching and controlling the sale of firewood at undesignated points.
The instrument would ensure that traders obtained special permits or licenses. They would need to identify the source of their firewood and the places where they would sell or transport it to. The statutory instrument that was currently awaiting approval from the Attorney Generals office, would allow rural people to cut down trees solely for domestic use. We acknowledge that firewood still remains the main source of power in rural areas but we want to ensure that members of the community do not abuse this privilege to the detriment of our forests.
He said therefore the movement of firewood from rural to urban areas will be monitored. Fines for wood poaching would range between US$20 and US$5 000 or a jail sentence of between three months and two years depending on the severity of the offence. He said the increased demand of firewood was the major cause of indiscriminate cutting of trees both in the rural and urban areas. In urban areas it was mainly because of power cuts.
Post published in: News