Cut wood in Mozambique will no longer be exported as logs from January 2017, announced the national director of the Earth, Forestry, Environment and Rural Development Ministry.

Xavier Sakambuera, who was speaking on the sidelines of the first national meeting of the sector held in Beira, Sofala province, said the move aims to promote the industrialisation of the country, according to daily newspaper Diario de Mozambique.

Under the current law, the export of first class wood can only occur after processing in the country, while the remaining quality classes can be exported as logs.

Legal wood cutting in Mozambique totals between 515,000 to 640,000 cubic metres per year, but due to the pressure on forest resources, these targets have been exceeded, which led the government with support from the Bank World to survey forest operators in 2015.

The survey revealed the existence of 1081 operators in Mozambique, of which 198 are concessions and the remaining 707 only simple licenses, which is considered unsustainable in forestry due to lack of plans to replace trees that are cut down.

“Too many simple licenses were granted, so we are considering the elimination of this type of logging,” concluded the National Director of Forestry. (macauhub)