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More than a hundred logging companies operating in SI

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Research Mr Vaeno Vigulu

PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Research says more than a hundred logging companies are currently operation in the country.

Mr Vaeno Vigulu explained that seventy-seven companies out the total logging companies are members of Solomon Forest Association.

He said the remaining non-members are on a red light of losing their licenses as the ministry is on a move to implement the moratorium under the 2007 Forest Resource and Timber Utilisation Regulation legal notice 114.

Mr Vigulu said Ministry of Forestry and Research has kicked of the implementation of legal notice 114 to restrict non-members of the Solomon Forest Association (SFA), and new logging companies, from pursuing logging activities in the country.

He said his ministry has stopped issuing licences to new logging companies as part of the operation.

Last year, the government announced that the Ministry of Forestry and Research will not issue any more felling licences to newly register foreign companies intending to carry out logging activities in the country.

A Government statement said the move was to control the influx of foreign logging companies that showed interest to participate in logging activities and to control illegal entry into unlicensed concession forest areas.

It said the Government also wants to ensure that resource owners enjoy maximum benefits from their forest resources.

The statement said the control measure will also assist the Ministry of Forestry to account for all logs felled, extracted and shipped offshore to niche markets.

The control measure will be conducted by the introduction and implementation of the Legal Notice 114 which was recommended by the Solomon Forest Association (SFA) to the Ministry of Forestry and Research – a body that assists the Ministry in regulating logging activities since March 15, 2007.