Illegal Timber Trading Treaty in Africa the First of Its Kind

The national forest agencies of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique signed a declaration to jointly combat illegal logging trade in eastern and southern Africa, according to WWF.

The Zanzibar Declaration on Illegal Trade in Timber and Other Forest Products was signed in Durban, South Africa, at the XIV World Forestry Congress. It is the first agreement of its kind, WWF said.

“The declaration comes at a crucial time,” said Geofrey Mwanjela, WWF Coastal East Africa Initiative head of Terrestrial Programme, in a statement.

Kenya loses $10 million per year from illegal timber trading between it and Tanzania, while Tanzania loses $8.33 million from such trade, according to reports cited by the WWF.

“Illegal trade in timber is expanding at an alarming rate, and this new commitment by governments will greatly amplify efforts to reduce such trade at the regional level,” Mwanjela said.

“Forests continue to dwindle at unprecedented rates in our region calling for new strategies to claw back these losses, because if we continue at the rate which we are going, there will be nothing left for our children and their children to enjoy,” said Juma S. Mgoo, Tanzania Forest Service CEO.