SIERRA LEONE TIMBER CONCESSIONS SUSPENDED!

In some good news and an encouraging sign that the temporary lifting of the timber ban may well be temporary rather than permanent as many had feared.

On Tuesday 17th September 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry suspended all forest logging concessions with immediate effect until framework is revised to ensure a sustainable timber harvest going forward.

In a call for full transparency Global Namati has filed a Right to Information request with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for the names, durations, areas and costs of all current concessions.

We renew our calls for:

1. a ban on exports until all such timber is certified sustainable and no longer comes from our ancient heritage woodlands and forests

2. a planned programme for forest community support to improve and diversify livelihoods

3. more ancient forests to be designated so that we can protect and enhance our natural capital and bio-diversity

#SierraLeone #environmentalaction #environment #Forests #deforestation #climatechange #climateaction #timber #timberban #SDGs #SDG13