The government has decided not to approve this year’s logging quota from production forests due to a lack of detailed planning, except where required along road corridors, mine sites or hydropower plants.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad made the announcement at the two day annual forestry sector meeting which concluded in Vientiane yesterday.
This year's timber quota has not yet been approved as the government needs more detailed harvesting plans.
The government suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry send officials to resurvey and classify the different types of production forest accurately and allocate clearly which areas were suitable for harvest and which were not.
They would then be able to submit a detailed plan for the government in June, in order to approve a timber quota for the next fiscal year.
The relevant authorities also need to closely scrutinise logging along road corridors and at mine and dam construction sites to ensure there is no unnecessary logging or encroachment into National Conservation Areas or Protected Forests, he said.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry needs to allocate rules and responsibilities to all involved sectors to prevent further loss of protected land, he advised.
Forestry inspectors needed to increase their surveillance efforts in conservation zones, as it was in their own long term interests, he added. The government has gradually reduced the timber quota it has approved, from 600,000 cubic metres in 2008 to less than 200,000 cubic metres in 2011.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Ty Phommasak reported to the meeting that often provincial and local officials were too reliant on the ministry for guidance, and lacked responsibility in implementing the law, he said.
Some officials were also failing to enforce timber harvesting regulations and certification and stamping procedures which are required by law, he added. A lack of coordination and enforcement is providing room for some companies to carry out illegal logging, while some officials are exploiting loopholes in the permit issuing system.
Authorities realise the future value of native forests and have seized large quantities of illegally logged timber in recent years, but often they have been unable to apprehend or prosecute the offending parties. Timber management, transport and export regulations require clarification and stricter enforcement, Dr Ty said.
Mr Somsavat urged the forestry authorities and all relevant sectors to increase surveillance and enforcement of the forestry law.
Laos needs to look towards the future and concentrate on implementing the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) project, which offers significant revenue potential through carbon credit schemes.
“The REDD project will help Laos to earn more revenue in future years, by leaving trees in the ground rather than harvesting them. If we have good management and allocation measures in place and work to increase forest cover, there is a bright future in forestry,” Mr Somsavat said.
