The National Coalition Against Illegal Logging in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently called for the authorities to better pay the agents in charge of controlling the logging sector. According to the Coalition, nearly 50% of operators work in an illegal situation, and regular monitoring of the sector is almost non-existent due in particular to a lack of technical and logistical means for the controllers.
The opaque management of the timber sector has been singled out and the coalition has pointed out that some operators are unknown to the authorities. The Coalition’s Executive Secretary, Philippe Nzita, expressed her disappointment at the non-payment of taxes by some government-backed logging companies.
The correspondent of ACTUALITE.CD investigated the companies SODEFOR and Congo King Bashing Forestry Development (COKIBAFODE): the National Coalition estimated that the first company was better than the second, which accumulated irregularities.
It is essential to make assessments of each company individually, underlines the Coalition, because there are no real tools to attest to the percentage of deforestation on Congolese territory. However, a significant amount of timber is exported legally to many countries, particularly China.
This appeal by the National Coalition against Illegal Logging is very important because it highlights the dilapidated situation that prevails in the timber sector, as well as the major repercussions of deforestation on Congolese populations. It is essential that the Congolese authorities take drastic measures to fight against illegal logging and control this sector as well as possible.