Africa asked to involve Ministries of Finance, Budget, in fight against illegal trade

African countries have been asked to involve Ministries of Finance and Budget in the fight against the exploitation and illegal trade in forest resources. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a National Dialogue on Illegal Exploitation and Trade in Rosewood in Conakry, Guinea, organised by the African Union in partnership […]

African countries have been asked to involve Ministries of Finance and Budget in the fight against the exploitation and illegal trade in forest resources.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a National Dialogue on Illegal Exploitation and Trade in Rosewood in Conakry, Guinea, organised by the African Union in partnership with Forest Trend and the Guinea Government to put an end to the illegal exploitation of rosewood.

Experts sought also the need to develop a harmonised regulatory framework for the continent to tackle the illegal trade. This is to avoid contradictions in the application of the laws of the sub- region.

According to the communiqué, there should be strong involvement of the Judiciary, Police and Customs services, to enhance law enforcement as well as strengthen the CITES implementation units across board.

There should be establishment of stakeholder consultation platform in the fight against the exploitation and illegal trade in rosewood, and to set up a fund to support reforestation, the communiqué said.

The communiqué also sought the enhancement of synergies between forestry, agriculture and other developmental aspects and to build capacities of all stakeholders.

However, participants at the workshop called for the establishment of a National Forestry Fund by governments to help finance the forestry sector and help to take national inventory of forest for data development.

“There is need to review the issue of licensing. Key in the review is to outlaw syndication of a license which sees one licensing transferring same to third parties,” they said.

While noting that community ownership should be promoted in the management of forest resources, they said once the community is involved, they would protect the resources as their own.

Other recommendations included that the leaders should set good examples and have defaulters face justice.