Senegal
The Senegalese government on Sunday said it will take “strong action” against excessive cutting of wood in Casamance, in the south of the country.
This follows a warning that the Casamance forest faces depletion in the next two years.
The region of Casamance in #Senegal will have no tree cover left by 2018 if illegal logging continues!
https://t.co/IB3M9zJmFm— FLARE (@FLAREglobal) May 28, 2016
In May, Senegal’s former environment minister and activist Haidar El Ali gave a disturbing account of the rapid depletion of the forest, due to illegal timber sales from Senegal to Gambia.
The country’s defence Minister Augustin Tine on Sunday said the state will act with strong measures to end (this) situation in a few days.
The government says the country has lost more than a million trees since 2010, while operators based in the Gambia pocketed over $240m by exporting the wood to China, where demand for furniture has exploded in recent years.
Agencies
Go to video
EU ends fishing agreement with Senegal amid overfishing concerns
01:03
Senegal’s legislative elections: Prime minister calls for retaliation against “attacks” on supporter
02:19
15th edition of Biennale of contemporary African art opens in Dakar
01:05
Financial audit forces Senegal to reassess IMF program strategy
Go to video
South Africa: Suspected murderer waives bail
01:41
Kenya relocates 50 elephants to larger park to ease overcrowding