Court battle looms over timber
About 250 Kavango East farmers are set to drag government to court following the abrupt suspension of the issuing of permits for the harvesting, transportation, marketing and exporting of timber late last year.
All People's Party (APP) secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu said consultations have taken place with these farmers, who have suffered severe financial losses due to the suspension of the issuing of these permits, and the matter will be taken to the High Court. He said this is contributing to poverty among the farmers and they will sue for the financial damages incurred.
Kanyetu said many farmers had already harvested timber, which now cannot be transported or exported. “Everything is standing still,” he said.
Kanyetu explained that due to the recent rains, some of the timber is ruined and cannot be sold.
He said the farmers had expected money from the harvested timber. “These farmers are now in trouble and have to borrow money. They are five times poorer than they were.”
Kanyetu said while they understand the problem with the illegal harvesting of timber, the question remains whether it is government's responsibility or that of the farmers to ensure that harvesters have permits.
“If a harvester cannot sell, a farmer can also not get his money.” According to Kanyetu, the farmers have already consulted with the office of the regional governor and will finalise their court submission by next week.
The agriculture ministry issued a directive on 26 November that all timber activities be put on hold; therefore, no harvesting, transportation, marketing or exporting of any timber products (logs, blocks and planks) may take place.
The directive further informed all forestry officials that as from 26 November they should suspend all issued permits and stop issuing new permits until further notice.
At the end of last year, the agriculture ministry said about 500 timber harvesters in the northeast of Namibia have to apply for environmental clearance certificates (ECC) in order to continue with their tree-felling operations.
This requires an environmental impact assessment (EIA), which is not only expensive, but can take months to complete.
In the case of timber harvesting, a person has to obtain a harvesting permit.
The current timber harvesting operations are legally authorised in terms of the Forest Act.
However, the applicants must ensure that other legal instruments and their requirements are taken into account. Timber harvesting is one of the listed activities in the Environmental Management Act of 2007.
ELLANIE SMIT
All People's Party (APP) secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu said consultations have taken place with these farmers, who have suffered severe financial losses due to the suspension of the issuing of these permits, and the matter will be taken to the High Court. He said this is contributing to poverty among the farmers and they will sue for the financial damages incurred.
Kanyetu said many farmers had already harvested timber, which now cannot be transported or exported. “Everything is standing still,” he said.
Kanyetu explained that due to the recent rains, some of the timber is ruined and cannot be sold.
He said the farmers had expected money from the harvested timber. “These farmers are now in trouble and have to borrow money. They are five times poorer than they were.”
Kanyetu said while they understand the problem with the illegal harvesting of timber, the question remains whether it is government's responsibility or that of the farmers to ensure that harvesters have permits.
“If a harvester cannot sell, a farmer can also not get his money.” According to Kanyetu, the farmers have already consulted with the office of the regional governor and will finalise their court submission by next week.
The agriculture ministry issued a directive on 26 November that all timber activities be put on hold; therefore, no harvesting, transportation, marketing or exporting of any timber products (logs, blocks and planks) may take place.
The directive further informed all forestry officials that as from 26 November they should suspend all issued permits and stop issuing new permits until further notice.
At the end of last year, the agriculture ministry said about 500 timber harvesters in the northeast of Namibia have to apply for environmental clearance certificates (ECC) in order to continue with their tree-felling operations.
This requires an environmental impact assessment (EIA), which is not only expensive, but can take months to complete.
In the case of timber harvesting, a person has to obtain a harvesting permit.
The current timber harvesting operations are legally authorised in terms of the Forest Act.
However, the applicants must ensure that other legal instruments and their requirements are taken into account. Timber harvesting is one of the listed activities in the Environmental Management Act of 2007.
ELLANIE SMIT
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