The Mozambique government has suspended issuing simple licenses for logging for a period of two years, intended “to enable the reorganisation of the sector”, which has been accused of “a number of irregularities” by the Council of Ministers.
And that phrase must be amongst the most euphemistic ever used to describe an industry which breaks more laws than it keeps.
Just how much timber is illegally exported is difficult to confirm, but a report earlier this year from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) stated that China is the destination for 90% of logs cut in Mozambique.
Also, illegal timber exports to China cost Mozambique $102 million in 2013, the WWF added.
And (test this out), while Mozambique reported official timber exports to China of 54 000 cubic metres that year, the Asian country said it imported 346 000cu.m.
Meanwhile, a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) blames the problem on widespread corruption and poor governance.
