By HARLYNE JOKU
THE export of round logs will be phased by 2010 and downstream processing phased in by logging companies, Forest Minister Belden Namah has announced.
This could mean the loss of K450 million worth of revenue from round log exports annually.
Mr Namah announced that the K30 per cubic meter royalty to landowners will be effective as of the end of this week.
This will be of benefit to landowners who will almost triple their income from the previous K10 per cubic metre royalty.
Mr Namah stressed that downstream processing must take place in the forestry sector where logging of forests make way for viable agricultural projects such as oil palm.
He said that logging projects must fund road and infrastructure projects and provide spin-off benefits for the forest communities and the country
Mr Namah made the remarks on the NBC Talk Back Show on Monday evening.
He also said that there had been numerous concerns raised by landowners over the non-compliance of logging laws by the forest authority.
He said he would personally fly into the logging sites and investigate.
If there’s proof of non-compliance, he said, he would revoke their timber permits.