![front1one](https://investigations.namibian.com.na/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/front1one.jpg)
By Shinovene Immanuel | 12 February 2019
THE government has received 231 applications from individuals who want to cut down 195 550 trees in north-eastern Namibia in five years.
This information is contained in a draft document compiled by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta on 4 February 2018, and shared with agriculture and forestry minister Alpheus !Naruseb.
Shifeta declined to comment on the document destined for a Cabinet discussion, while !Naruseb refused to respond to questions yesterday.
The Namibian obtained the document from sources in the agriculture ministry who wanted to illustrate how individuals are craving to chop down trees for profit.
“Since the suspension of timber harvesting, transport, marketing and export, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has received numerous applications for environmental clearance certificates for timber harvesting activities,” Shifeta stated.
According to the document, the ministry received 231 applications since the 2018 ban, of which 142 applications were supported and recommended by the agriculture ministry.
“It is a known fact that the issuing of forestry permits for all purposes was suspended with effect from 26 November 2018.
If approved, these applications will result in about 47 857 trees being harvested annually, and 195 550 trees to be harvested in five years,” Shifeta said, warning that this figure could be more if the enforcement of the permits is not monitored.
“No public consultations were undertaken regarding the cutting down of the trees. No remedial measures were proposed to address the effects of the cutting down of trees on the environment,” he stressed.
The Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi regions are sought-after areas for timber harvesting in Namibia.
The minister said the application process for environmental clearance certificates requires that an environmental assessment is conducted to determine the potential impact and risks on the environment due to harvesting activities.
“In all 231 applications, this was not done,” he said, adding that there is a need to investigate the potential negative impact on forest reproduction, possible extensions of some trees, and the destruction and damage of bird nesting sites.
Shifeta also complained that the widespread export of timber without any local value-addition was a further concern.
“It is, therefore, proposed to establish a sawmill and furniture manufacturing plant to ensure that value is added to our timber before it is exported,” the minister said in the document, suggesting that the government can approach the Development Bank of Namibia to set up such a facility.
Namibian Sun reported last year that farmers decide on the price at which the tree is to be sold, with a typical price ranging between N$300 and N$450.
“Sources claim that the trees are then sold at Walvis Bay to a Chinese buyer, who pays around N$12 000 per cubic metre for the timber. This means the local farmer gets between N$180 000 and N$270 000 for selling 600 trees. The Chinese ‘investor’ gets more than N$3 million for the trees,” the report said.
The government banned the cutting and transportation of timber in November last year after concerns that timber was being harvested without following the correct procedures, and broader concerns over the environmental impact caused by logging mainly in the Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi regions.
The ministry of agriculture announced last week that the environment ministry had authorised them to lift the moratorium on the transportation of timber that was cut or harvested before 26 November 2018.
However, the moratorium on timber harvesting remains in place, and no harvesting permits will be issued until further notice.
Environment’s executive director, Theofilus Nghitila, wrote to his counterpart at the forestry ministry, Percy Misika, on 28 January 2019, informing him that they were giving farmers who had already cut down trees permits to transport the timber.
“The permission will be valid until March 2019,” Nghitila said.
Misika confirmed to The Namibian yesterday that he received Nghitila’s letter. He, however, denied knowledge of the letter from Shifeta, which asked them to respond by 14 February 2019 to prepare the document for Cabinet.
“I did not see it yet. Maybe it is among the pile of documents I have not yet read,” he said.
He denied claims that the agriculture ministry is encouraging the timber trade in north-eastern Namibia.
“The heavy cutting of trees concerns the government,” he said, adding that the ministry does most of the confiscation of timber.
Misika said any licensing arrangement can have a loophole for abuse.
“It happens in any licensing. We have a rigorous surveillance system and campaigns. Whenever we hear of illegal timber logging, we confiscate it and report the culprits to the police,” he said.
The timber business has for years benefited a few people while communities are paid little or nothing at all, an official familiar with this matter said.
The Namibian reported last year that a Chinese company wants to cut down 1 000 trees in the Zambezi region in exchange for building traditional authority offices and a school hostel block.
Senior Mafwe traditional authority adviser Elias Mueze said in 2017 that anyone who is against the export of timber from the Zambezi region should mind their own business.
Namibia is now facing a challenge to stop the cutting down of its rare timber.
Oxpeckers, an investigative environmental journalism project reported in 2017 in a story titled ‘Chinese ‘mafia boss’ turns to timber in Namibia’ that a Chinese businessman was smuggling timber from other countries through Namibian ports.
“They harvest most of the logs in south-eastern Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, countries that have banned the export of raw logs, and then transport the timber by truck to Walvis Bay harbour in Namibia.
“Using Namibia as their backdoor, they are exporting raw logs from the region at a rate of thousands of trees every month,” the report said.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
l looking tender to cut the tree
pin-up oyunu https://azerbaijancuisine.com/# pin-up kazino
pin-up oyunu
pin-up kazino: pin up yukle – pin up yukle
mexican pharmaceuticals online: mexican pharmacy – medication from mexico pharmacy
http://northern-doctors.org/# mexico pharmacy
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies: mexican mail order pharmacies – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa northern doctors pharmacy mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
https://northern-doctors.org/# buying prescription drugs in mexico online
http://northern-doctors.org/# buying prescription drugs in mexico
mexican drugstore online: reputable mexican pharmacies online – medication from mexico pharmacy
mexican drugstore online mexican pharmacy pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexican pharmacy northern doctors – best online pharmacies in mexico
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexican pharmaceuticals online
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: mexican pharmacy northern doctors – mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
http://northern-doctors.org/# pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: northern doctors pharmacy – mexican rx online
buying from online mexican pharmacy: mexican pharmacy online – reputable mexican pharmacies online
http://northern-doctors.org/# mexican rx online
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies mexican pharmacy online medication from mexico pharmacy
medication from mexico pharmacy: mexican northern doctors – buying from online mexican pharmacy
medicine in mexico pharmacies: mexican pharmacy northern doctors – medication from mexico pharmacy
https://northern-doctors.org/# buying prescription drugs in mexico online
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexican pharmacy
mexico pharmacy: northern doctors pharmacy – mexican pharmaceuticals online
mexico drug stores pharmacies: northern doctors – mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs Mexico pharmacy that ship to usa mexican mail order pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
mexico pharmacy: mexican pharmacy northern doctors – mexican pharmaceuticals online
https://northern-doctors.org/# medicine in mexico pharmacies
buying prescription drugs in mexico online: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexico drug stores pharmacies
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexican northern doctors – mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs mexican pharmacy medicine in mexico pharmacies
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies: mexican northern doctors – mexican rx online
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: mexican northern doctors – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
reputable mexican pharmacies online: northern doctors – buying from online mexican pharmacy
https://northern-doctors.org/# medicine in mexico pharmacies
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexican pharmacy northern doctors – mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexican northern doctors – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
best online pharmacies in mexico buying from online mexican pharmacy medication from mexico pharmacy
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: Mexico pharmacy that ship to usa – purple pharmacy mexico price list
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexico drug stores pharmacies
medication from mexico pharmacy: northern doctors – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
mexican mail order pharmacies: northern doctors pharmacy – mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs: northern doctors pharmacy – mexican rx online
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies northern doctors pharmacy mexican mail order pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexican drugstore online
purple pharmacy mexico price list: mexican pharmacy northern doctors – buying from online mexican pharmacy
https://northern-doctors.org/# best online pharmacies in mexico
reputable mexican pharmacies online: northern doctors pharmacy – mexican mail order pharmacies
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: mexican northern doctors – mexican mail order pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# purple pharmacy mexico price list
mexico pharmacy: northern doctors pharmacy – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
medication from mexico pharmacy mexican pharmacy northern doctors medication from mexico pharmacy
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexican northern doctors – medicine in mexico pharmacies
mexican rx online mexican pharmacy buying prescription drugs in mexico
best online pharmacies in mexico online mexican pharmacy best online pharmacies in mexico
mexico drug stores pharmacies: online mexican pharmacy – mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
mexican drugstore online cmq mexican pharmacy online mexican pharmaceuticals online
buying from online mexican pharmacy cmq mexican pharmacy online buying prescription drugs in mexico online
mexican rx online purple pharmacy mexico price list mexican drugstore online
mexican mail order pharmacies cmq mexican pharmacy online buying from online mexican pharmacy
buying prescription drugs in mexico online mexican online pharmacy mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs best online pharmacies in mexico purple pharmacy mexico price list
https://cmqpharma.com/# purple pharmacy mexico price list
reputable mexican pharmacies online
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs п»їbest mexican online pharmacies mexico drug stores pharmacies
best online pharmacies in mexico: п»їbest mexican online pharmacies – mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexican pharmaceuticals online mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa mexican rx online
india pharmacy mail order reputable indian pharmacies online shopping pharmacy india
http://foruspharma.com/# mexican mail order pharmacies
buy medicines online in india: world pharmacy india – indian pharmacy online
mexican mail order pharmacies: mexican rx online – mexican pharmaceuticals online
india pharmacy: cheapest online pharmacy india – top online pharmacy india
https://indiapharmast.com/# reputable indian pharmacies
mail order pharmacy india indian pharmacy indian pharmacy online
online pharmacy india: indian pharmacy – india pharmacy mail order
india pharmacy mail order: india pharmacy mail order – india pharmacy mail order
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexico drug stores pharmacies – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
medication from mexico pharmacy mexico pharmacy medication from mexico pharmacy
canadian drug pharmacy: canadian drug stores – pharmacy in canada
top online pharmacy india: best online pharmacy india – top 10 pharmacies in india
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa – mexico drug stores pharmacies
http://canadapharmast.com/# canada pharmacy
canadian mail order pharmacy ed meds online canada certified canadian pharmacy
https://canadapharmast.online/# canadian pharmacy scam
india pharmacy: indianpharmacy com – online shopping pharmacy india
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa – mexican mail order pharmacies
pharmacy website india: reputable indian pharmacies – indianpharmacy com
Online medicine home delivery mail order pharmacy india india pharmacy mail order
canadian pharmacy no rx needed: certified canadian international pharmacy – legit canadian online pharmacy
canadian pharmacy online ship to usa: canadian drug pharmacy – safe reliable canadian pharmacy
top 10 online pharmacy in india buy prescription drugs from india buy prescription drugs from india
http://indiapharmast.com/# buy prescription drugs from india
mexican pharmaceuticals online: purple pharmacy mexico price list – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
legit canadian pharmacy: best canadian pharmacy to buy from – canadadrugpharmacy com
india pharmacy: top 10 pharmacies in india – pharmacy website india
paxlovid india: paxlovid for sale – paxlovid for sale
http://ciprodelivery.pro/# antibiotics cipro
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# order clomid prices
where can i get amoxicillin 500 mg: over the counter amoxicillin canada – how to get amoxicillin
http://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy cipro online without prescription
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# where can i buy clomid without prescription
where can i get clomid no prescription: how to buy clomid without rx – how to get cheap clomid prices
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# ciprofloxacin
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxicillin online purchase
doxycycline 300 mg price: how to get doxycycline 100mg – cost of generic doxycycline
Paxlovid over the counter: paxlovid price – Paxlovid buy online
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# order generic clomid
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy ciprofloxacin
buy ciprofloxacin over the counter: antibiotics cipro – buy cipro without rx
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# ciprofloxacin mail online
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# buy amoxicillin canada
paxlovid pharmacy: paxlovid buy – paxlovid cost without insurance
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# doxycycline pills cost
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# can you buy generic clomid without prescription
paxlovid price: п»їpaxlovid – п»їpaxlovid
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# buy amoxicillin online with paypal
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# cipro for sale
paxlovid buy: paxlovid buy – paxlovid covid
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy generic ciprofloxacin
order clomid without rx: can you get generic clomid without dr prescription – where buy generic clomid without rx
http://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy generic ciprofloxacin
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid buy
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# where buy cheap clomid without dr prescription
buy cipro: buy cipro – buy cipro without rx
buying clomid without dr prescription: can i get generic clomid pills – where can i buy generic clomid without a prescription
can i buy generic clomid without a prescription: where to buy cheap clomid without insurance – can you get cheap clomid prices
doxycycline for sale online uk: buy doxycycline medicine – doxycycline 200 mg price in india