BY IRVIN MUYUMBWA
THE Government is in the process of procuring machinery that will detect deforestation and determine the age of logs and their origin, to combat wide abuse of forests.
Green Economy and Environment Minister, Collins Nzovu, says government will also procure drones to monitor illegal activities in forests in order to mitigate illegal harvest and trade of timber.
On his continued tour of Southern Province, the Minister said that Government was losing a lot of revenue in the illegal trade of the commodity.
He however encouraged timber processing companies in Kazungula District to trade only with licensed individuals and entities.
Mr Nzovu stressed that perpetrators of the illegal trade of timber would face the full wrath of the law as the cutting down of trees doesn’t only result in the loss of revenue but also poses a danger on the climate.
He notes with concern that so much illegality under the previous regime was being perpetrated with impunity and perpetrators were never prosecuted.
