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Government Suspends All Timber Licenses
Government has with immediate effect suspended all timber licenses until further notice.
Lands, natural resources and environmental protection Minister Wilbur Simuusa who made the announcement in parliament this morning in a ministerial statement said this is in line with powers vested in him under section 68, subsection 2F of the Forest Act No.39 OF 1973 Cap 199 of the laws of Zambia.
Mr Simuusa said the suspension will not however apply to exotic timber plantations or to timber that was legally extracted, processed and is in timber yards, factories or markets.
The Minister has since directed provincial and district forest officials and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the ban is enforced.
He says his ministry will engage all stakeholders in the forestry sector including traditional leaders to develop effective governance systems in the sustainable management of the country’s valuable timber species as well as policing mechanisms.
And Mr Simuusa has announced the launch of an ambitious countrywide tree planting exercise which will see the planting of twenty five million, one hundred thousand trees.
He says the programme which is an initiative of the PF government with support from cooperating partners and the private sector will cover an estimated 20,000 hectares of land.
Mr Simuusa explained that 100,000 tree seedlings will be planted in each of the 80 districts in the country.
Posted by Editor
on November 9, 2012. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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black man
November 9, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Good move GRZ. ZAFFICO initially had about 50,000 ha of land under pine plantations so it should be relatively easy for GRZ to utilize 20,000 ha of land. The challenge is not planting these trees but managing them. Protecting them against vices like deadly uncontrolled late fires that burn Zambia annually leading to the loss of extensive forested areas. How about employment of foresters and modenization of infrastructure in forest district offices as well as at the research division in Kitwe. GRS has also suspended sell of hunting licenses. Looks like something good is gonna happen. Keep fingers crossed.
Can the govt explain if they is any JOB creation in all this
November 9, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Govt plz explain youths jobs creation in all this move??
kakolwe
November 10, 2012 at 5:14 am
Tree planting & aforestation in our Nation would be a success if it was inculcated into the populatiopn at village level. It means spending money on training villagers in simple forestry & saving wastage. People need to ‘own’ forests.
FJM
November 10, 2012 at 7:21 am
Welcome move. The timber industry has been left to the vultures for too long. Let government engage cooperating partners who will be honest and committed to sustainable management of timber species.
Mr.right
November 10, 2012 at 8:16 am
Why suspend.This will create unemployment since most joineries depend on timber.It will mean no coffins for the departed.Though the move is temporal,the negative
Impact will be severe just like the minimum wage.But,the planting of trees is a good move.
kasenge
November 10, 2012 at 6:46 pm
It is a good, move but consider job creation in what ever u do.
kasenge
November 10, 2012 at 6:48 pm
It is a good move, but consider job creation in what ever u do.
Wisdom
November 11, 2012 at 3:32 am
THROWING MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREET.
TEAM GRZ!
November 12, 2012 at 2:42 am
GOOD MOVE. WE NEED SANITY.
Rod
November 12, 2012 at 7:38 am
Good move and long overdue! Zambia is quickly turning into a desert because of the exploitation of this very important natural resource!
muntu
November 12, 2012 at 8:22 am
What is the Forestry department doing about export of finished timber products like doors. Many Chines nationals are now exporting finished products to avoid some govt royaties.But all the same barn is not so feasible as we are to see alot of ilegal activities and loss of jobs