Zambia suspends timber licences
16 November 2012The Zambian government has suspended all timber licences in an attempt to protect the country’s forests.
It also plans to plant 25 million trees - equivalent to 20,000ha - during the 2012/2013 planting season.
Lands, natural resources and environment protection minister Wylbur Simuusa said the National Tree Planting Programme could create 200,000 jobs, while the first phase of establishing 11 large-cale nurseries could result in 6,000 new jobs.
Species planted will include pine and eucalyptus for timber, poles and resins; faldherbia albida for animal fodder, nitrogen fixing, and firewood; moringa oleifera for medicine; and oil and fruit trees.
The suspension of timber licences does not apply to exotic timber plantations.
