Zambezi logging to continue
The activities for the creation of an irrigation scheme near Katima Mulilo have been given the green light to proceed, but with conditions.
De-bushing activities have been given the go-ahead at the construction site of an irrigation scheme near Katima Mulilo, albeit with strict guidelines set by the forestry department for future logging activities.
Forestry officials, regional council representatives and contractors last week discussed the felling of 70 high-value, protected trees near the Liselo and Katima Farm agricultural project site in the Zambezi Region.
Officials said the issue had been resolved and that it had “basically been a misunderstanding”. Confusion arose partly because of two maps of the area that show different buffer zones where logging is off-limits.
John Niipale, a senior forestry official, said it had “not really been illegal harvesting” but looking at the old and new maps, it appeared that the Chinese contractor had acted on outdated information. Another forestry official explained that the new map had been revised to include a 200-metre buffer zone along the Angolan border in which no logging activities could take place.
The old map, which had been provided to the contractors at the site, including the Chinese company New Force Logistics, showed a 60-metre buffer zone.
Based on the old map, New Force Logistics apparently had been logging outside the buffer zone, but on the new map the logging took place within the buffer zone. Nevertheless, New Force Logistics, and the other companies linked to the original de-bushing tender for the green scheme - MK Construction Investment, JV Okatombo Investment, and Uundenge Investments - were instructed to stop cutting trees in areas that had not yet been cleared by bulldozers and excavators.
“We agreed that they should not cut in front of the others. They must remain behind the bulldozers and then cut what remains there,” Niipale explained.
Moreover, the timber that is collected may not be removed from the site and sold commercially by any of the contractors for the time being.
“We agreed that the timber, once it is cross-cut, must be piled at the site and then the community and the councillors and the contractors will agree what to do with the timber. Forestry will issue a harvesting permit at a later stage,” Niipale said.
New Force Logistics signed a contract to pay N$3 million to Uundenge Investments to cut, transport and sell the timber from the area.
It is unclear whether the agreement remains valid with the new guidelines in place.
“We haven't gone into detail on that. Our interest was on the protection of the resources, not on the Chinese. We wanted to ensure that there was no illegal harvesting,” Niipale said.
He said the parties also agreed to bring in a consultant to clearly identify the areas that may not be cleared for the irrigation scheme, as stipulated in the initial tender's scope. Joseph Hailwa, director of forestry in the agriculture ministry, confirmed that the two maps had “led to a bit of confusion”.
He added that he was not made aware that any illegal cutting had taken place. He said the differences had been sorted out.
Hailwa added that because the area had been officially designated as a future Green Scheme site that must be cleared for crop production, the contractors would need permission from the forestry department to utilise the resources within the designated area. Niipale said it was important to investigate and clarify the matter because of the ongoing illegal logging taking place in the region.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Forestry officials, regional council representatives and contractors last week discussed the felling of 70 high-value, protected trees near the Liselo and Katima Farm agricultural project site in the Zambezi Region.
Officials said the issue had been resolved and that it had “basically been a misunderstanding”. Confusion arose partly because of two maps of the area that show different buffer zones where logging is off-limits.
John Niipale, a senior forestry official, said it had “not really been illegal harvesting” but looking at the old and new maps, it appeared that the Chinese contractor had acted on outdated information. Another forestry official explained that the new map had been revised to include a 200-metre buffer zone along the Angolan border in which no logging activities could take place.
The old map, which had been provided to the contractors at the site, including the Chinese company New Force Logistics, showed a 60-metre buffer zone.
Based on the old map, New Force Logistics apparently had been logging outside the buffer zone, but on the new map the logging took place within the buffer zone. Nevertheless, New Force Logistics, and the other companies linked to the original de-bushing tender for the green scheme - MK Construction Investment, JV Okatombo Investment, and Uundenge Investments - were instructed to stop cutting trees in areas that had not yet been cleared by bulldozers and excavators.
“We agreed that they should not cut in front of the others. They must remain behind the bulldozers and then cut what remains there,” Niipale explained.
Moreover, the timber that is collected may not be removed from the site and sold commercially by any of the contractors for the time being.
“We agreed that the timber, once it is cross-cut, must be piled at the site and then the community and the councillors and the contractors will agree what to do with the timber. Forestry will issue a harvesting permit at a later stage,” Niipale said.
New Force Logistics signed a contract to pay N$3 million to Uundenge Investments to cut, transport and sell the timber from the area.
It is unclear whether the agreement remains valid with the new guidelines in place.
“We haven't gone into detail on that. Our interest was on the protection of the resources, not on the Chinese. We wanted to ensure that there was no illegal harvesting,” Niipale said.
He said the parties also agreed to bring in a consultant to clearly identify the areas that may not be cleared for the irrigation scheme, as stipulated in the initial tender's scope. Joseph Hailwa, director of forestry in the agriculture ministry, confirmed that the two maps had “led to a bit of confusion”.
He added that he was not made aware that any illegal cutting had taken place. He said the differences had been sorted out.
Hailwa added that because the area had been officially designated as a future Green Scheme site that must be cleared for crop production, the contractors would need permission from the forestry department to utilise the resources within the designated area. Niipale said it was important to investigate and clarify the matter because of the ongoing illegal logging taking place in the region.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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