Log Smuggling, Illegal Logging, and Corruption in Mozambique
February 2013
A report on the illegal flow of timber from Mozambique to China featuring detailed case studies revealing smuggling techniques, specific examples of corruption and the collusion of senior Mozambique politicians with Chinese timber exporters.
This document was produced with the financial assistance of the Department for International Development (DFID) Forest Governance Markets and Climate programme.
The contents are the sole responsibility of Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of DFID.
Conclusion of the report:
Mozambique is a signatory to the Yaounde Ministerial Declaration on African Forest Law Enforcement and Governance, committing itself to 42 indicative actions against illegal logging and associated trade, corruption, and to promote improved forest governance. Given the problems outlined in this briefing, it is clear these commitments have not been met.
The discrepancy in official export/import data in volumes of timber traded between Mozambique to China demonstrates the scale of illegal exports and how they drive illegal logging in the country.
The tax revenue lost to this trade harms Mozambique’s capacity to fund improved forest management and law enforcement, as well as community poverty alleviation schemes.
Government efforts to control the illegal timber trade, by increasing the number of seizures, legislating for greater fines and by increasing the VAT tax on the export of logs, have been undermined by the persistence of the illegal operators protected by political patronage.
These problems should by now have raised concerns from the relevant Mozambican authorities and their Chinese counterparts, leading to an investigation regarding any illegalities involved. The fact that these problems continue to blight the proper management of the forest sector is a travesty forMozambique’s forests and for those poor communities who rely on them for their survival.
PDF Document
Online Document
Tag: Corruption in Mozambique
Log Smuggling, Illegal Logging, and Corruption in Mozambique
February 2013
A report on the illegal flow of timber from Mozambique to China featuring detailed case studies revealing smuggling techniques, specific examples of corruption and the collusion of senior Mozambique politicians with Chinese timber exporters.
This document was produced with the financial assistance of the Department for International Development (DFID) Forest Governance Markets and Climate programme.
The contents are the sole responsibility of Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of DFID.
Conclusion of the report:
Mozambique is a signatory to the Yaounde Ministerial Declaration on African Forest Law Enforcement and Governance, committing itself to 42 indicative actions against illegal logging and associated trade, corruption, and to promote improved forest governance. Given the problems outlined in this briefing, it is clear these commitments have not been met.
The discrepancy in official export/import data in volumes of timber traded between Mozambique to China demonstrates the scale of illegal exports and how they drive illegal logging in the country.
The tax revenue lost to this trade harms Mozambique’s capacity to fund improved forest management and law enforcement, as well as community poverty alleviation schemes.
Government efforts to control the illegal timber trade, by increasing the number of seizures, legislating for greater fines and by increasing the VAT tax on the export of logs, have been undermined by the persistence of the illegal operators protected by political patronage.
These problems should by now have raised concerns from the relevant Mozambican authorities and their Chinese counterparts, leading to an investigation regarding any illegalities involved. The fact that these problems continue to blight the proper management of the forest sector is a travesty forMozambique’s forests and for those poor communities who rely on them for their survival.
PDF Document
Online Document