A recent study into illegal logging in Mozambique – carried out by the University of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), in Maputo – found that at least two-thirds of all logging in the country is unlicensed and that illegal harvesting has increased by 88 percent between 2007 and 2012. The study suggests that while around 300,000 square metres of timber were licensed for harvesting in 2012, almost 900,000 square metres were actually felled. Much of the illegal timber is being consumed in Mozambique's cities, although large volumes were also being traced to export markets.
In addition to unlicensed logging, the study found that breaches of regulations by licensed loggers were also commonplace. This includes logging under-sized trees, logging without a required management plan and logging outside concession boundaries. Additional research presented at a UEM workshop by Sam Lawson, international expert on illegal logging who assisted with the study, showed that illegal exports of timber from Mozambique are also rapidly increasing.
The UEM study demonstrates that despite government efforts to tackle illegal logging, illicit harvesting is increasing annually. Lawson told participants that more needs to be done as Mozambique is falling far behind other African countries in its response to illegal logging.