Illegal logging is the cutting down of trees, transporting them, or using their products such as timber for economic gains against the prohibition by law. It involves the use of corrupt ways to reach the forests or protected areas, the harvesting or cutting down of the trees without approval, and selling them elsewhere or in black markets as timber. The excessive extraction of timber beyond the stipulated limits is equally pronounced as illegal logging. As global demand for comedies such as paper, wood and palm oil soars, companies and people continue to encroach even deeper into forests, aggravating the illegal logging problem. According to 2017 United Nations Assembly held in Nairobi, illegal logging in East Africa constitutes part of the total illegitimate global trade in timber products and contributes between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of the total global timber trade. According to 2017 United Nations Assembly held in Nairobi, illegal logging in East Africa constitutes part of the total illegitimate global trade in timber products and contributes between 10 per cent and 30 per cent of the total global timber trade.
Charcoal is a form of wood fuel made by burning wood in a low oxygen environment. In Kenya, the demand for charcoal is one of the key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. Unsustainable charcoal burning has become very rampant in Kenya and has degraded major forests in the country which include Endau Hill, Mwingi Game Reserve in Kitui County, south Mbooni Forest in Makueni and the Dakatcha woodland in Malindi among others.
CAUSES OF ILLEGAL LOGGING
1. Rural Poverty
In the forest regions, there is always a rural community or indigenous people living within the locality. These communities or tribes are in most cases very poor and entirely depend on the forest for their needs and survival. From food, shelter to fuel, it’s all obtained from the forest. Consequently, they are put in a situation where they source firewood for cooking and heating from the forest that encourages the practice of constant illegal logging. Most of their shelter construction materials are also sourced from the forest which has led to repeated illegal cutting down of trees to obtain timber. Further, since such villages experience harsh economic situations and considering that the forest is their only source of income, they often collude with illegal loggers for monetary gains. Some may also illegally obtain wood from the forest and sell them to lumber mills.
It may also entail a lack of recognition of the land and resource use rights of forest communities, or of the rights of other concession-holders.
2. Illegal charcoal, furniture and timber trade
There is an increasing dependency on charcoal, furniture and timber across the world. Charcoal is used for heating and cooking in most developing countries and those who engage in the trade illegally cut down trees which are then used to make the charcoal. High density wood is often preferred to make high quality charcoal, which means the illegal cutting down of hard wood trees. The soaring demand for furniture and timber also propels the practice of illegal logging, a multi-billion dollar industry involving some of the top government officials and corporate executives as well as big businesses owners who are out for selfish monetary gains.
3. Weaknesses and laxity in forest governance
Forest governance in producer countries very poor and the laws in place are lax at addressing illegal logging concerns. Limited resources, weak institutions, and lax laws have contributed to inadequate law enforcement and the lack of proper land use management. Furthermore, many countries have unclear and poor legal frameworks.
Some are even contradictory. These issues combined leave so many gaps in forest management and governance and as such, it makes it hard for the formal systems to strictly enforce laws guarding against illegal logging. It creates room for businesses and individuals to deliberately over-harvest or take advantage of the legislation gaps. Governance problems include weak institutions and limited resources, which results in a lack of law enforcement as well as limited capacity for land use planning.
Effects of Illegal Logging and charcoal burning
1. Poor living standards for indigenous populations
The lives of indigenous communities and villagers living in proximity to the forests are usually destroyed in countless ways because of illegal logging. Illegal logging takes away their traditional way of life and livelihoods. Particularly, their tribal cultures are lost if the forest goes away and it also makes it difficult for them to forage which threatens their survival. Some also depend on the forest resources for income and as such, illegal logging withdraws their only source of income which makes them modern day slaves and shadows of their real cultures.
It can also have negative impacts on the livelihoods of local people and result in conflict. The revenues from illegal logging may also fund national and regional conflicts, as has been the case in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2. Global warming and climate change
Illegal logging and charcoal burning destroys trees that act as carbon sinks and climate regulators which play a significant role in global warming and climate change. Aside from increasing the global temperatures, the practice also accounts for the reduction of the total forest cover area exposing most of the lands to high temperatures and extreme weather conditions. Charcoal burning snd consumption either emits carbon (greenhouse) into atmosphere. The illegal clearing of forests to obtain timber is equally responsible for about 11% of carbon emissions which continue to impact climates worldwide.
3. Loss of biodiversity and destruction of Habitats
Forest loss as a result of illegal logging and charcoal burning is a threat to biodiversity in forest habitats. More and more species are unable to survive as the practice denies the habitat the crucial natural interconnectedness. The extensive fragmentation and degradation of the forest has put more animal and plant species at the verge of extinction. It is approximated that the modern day rate of extinction is in the range of 1 to 10 species annually.
4. Economic losses
Apart from the numerous environmental consequences of illegal logging, it can also weaken the economy of poor countries. Illegal logging is said to lower the prices of world timber in the ranges of 7% to 16% annually, causing a global revenue loss of about 15 billion US dollars per year. In poor countries, governments lose revenue from duties and taxes and other costs related to the management of illegal logging. Besides, the losses are not only in terms of current revenue but may also lead to major economic ramifications in the future due to the degradation of valuable natural resources.
Clearing of the riparian vegetation in Lembus forest block to give land for PELIS
Part of Lembus forest block cleared 1990s and has not been replanted
