Stichting Bosbeheer en Bostoezicht (SBB) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office recently launched an offensive against illegal logging, smuggling and concession lumbers who fail to meet the requirements of the logging permit. “Some concession holders have not conducted any operations on their concessions for the past 5 to 6 years and they also have not paid any concession rights,”
Land Policy and Forest Management (GBB) minister Dinotha Vorswijk. According to the SBB the registered lumber volumes are only at 300,000 cubic meters while the projected objective for 2024 was at 640,000 cubic meters. This huge shortage has serious consequences for the state income.
Minister Vorswijk confirmed that the ministry will take action against those who fail to fulfil their legal obligations. “All of them have been notified that they must fulfil their obligations’, said minister Vorswijk. “Those who do not pay concession rights or who neglect their concession risk losing their rights.” In order to beef up surveillance the SBB has established a call center at its main office. It has also installed cameras at strategic locations to keep an eye on all lumber transports. “The live feed from the cameras makes it possible to keep an eye on the lumber transports. As soon as we detect irregularities, we take swift action.”…[+]