Suspension of timber permits still in force

RUNDU – The suspension of issuing timber-harvesting permits in communal areas of the Kavango region has remained in force for almost a year now.

The decision to stop issuing timber-harvesting permits came into effect in November last year, and forms part of minimising excessive harvesting of trees in the region. It was prompted by the increasing cases of illegal logging, and non-compliance of permit holders.Rundu District Forestry officer Mwiikinghi Jonas told Nampa yesterday that the permit decision is still on, and that this suspension will not be lifted anytime soon.Jonas explained that the Directorate of Forestry is not in favour of the transportation of raw materials such as timber from this region to elsewhere, saying such activities are depleting natural resources and also not benefiting the communities.”Nobody is allowed to harvest timber in communal areas because it’s not adding value to the communities,” he stressed.There are currently about five gazetted community forests in the region.They are the Ncumgara community forest, Ncaute, Ncamagoro, Mbeyo and Hansi Kanyinga community forest.Last year alone, about 40 cases of illegal logging of timber were reported to the District Forestry office.A person found in possession of illegal forestry products such as timber is liable to a fine of up to N$8 000 or two years’ imprisonment, or both.- Nampa Small farmers wait for compensation The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has not yet set a date for compensating the small-scale farmers who will be relocated to pave way for the development of a Green Scheme agricultural project in the Kapako Constituency of the Kavango Region.A total of 212 affected small-scale farmers were registered, with government having allocated about N$1,5 million to compensate the affected farmers.The project, to be known as the ‘Sikondo agricultural project’, will cover about 800 hectares of land, and forms part of the government’s Green Scheme project that strives to attain food security in the country.It was prompted by the increasing cases of illegal logging, and non-compliance of permit holders.Rundu District Forestry officer Mwiikinghi Jonas told Nampa yesterday that the permit decision is still on, and that this suspension will not be lifted anytime soon.Jonas explained that the Directorate of Forestry is not in favour of the transportation of raw materials such as timber from this region to elsewhere, saying such activities are depleting natural resources and also not benefiting the communities.”Nobody is allowed to harvest timber in communal areas because it’s not adding value to the communities,” he stressed.There are currently about five gazetted community forests in the region.They are the Ncumgara community forest, Ncaute, Ncamagoro, Mbeyo and Hansi Kanyinga community forest.Last year alone, about 40 cases of illegal logging of timber were reported to the District Forestry office.A person found in possession of illegal forestry products such as timber is liable to a fine of up to N$8 000 or two years’ imprisonment, or both.- Nampa Small farmers wait for compensation The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has not yet set a date for compensating the small-scale farmers who will be relocated to pave way for the development of a Green Scheme agricultural project in the Kapako Constituency of the Kavango Region.A total of 212 affected small-scale farmers were registered, with government having allocated about N$1,5 million to compensate the affected farmers.The project, to be known as the ‘Sikondo agricultural project’, will cover about 800 hectares of land, and forms part of the government’s Green Scheme project that strives to attain food security in the country.