May 14, 2019
BBC News Africa


Government says 353 containers of protected hardwood that was illegally
felled have disappeared from its custody.

[image: image.png]
President Bongo took over upon his father Omar’s death in 2009 and has made
saving Gabon’s unique wildlife, including its pristine equatorial
rainforest and elephants, a priority. [Emma Farge/Reuters]

Gabon's government has vowed to find and punish those responsible for the
disappearance of more than 350 containers of protected hardwood worth
nearly $250m.

In late February and early March, the authorities uncovered and seized 392
containers with 5,000 cubic metres of illegally felled kevazingo wood in
the port of Owendo.

By the end of April, 353 of those containers had disappeared.

"This case is extremely serious. It requires the greatest severity in
response," the administration of President Ali Bongo said in a statement.
"There must be no weakness, no impunity, no special favour, no matter the
rank of the persons involved."

Forestry is a major industry for the central African country, almost 80
percent of which is carpeted in rainforest. But the rare kevazingo tree,
which can take 500 years to grow to its full height of 40m (130 feet), is
protected by law.

Demand in Asia for kevazingo remains high despite the ban in Gabon. The
kevazingo in the stolen containers would have a market value of at least
140 billion Central African CFA francs ($241m), said Emmanuel Nzue, who
runs a Gabonese wood firm.

Gabon has been ruled by the Bongo family for over 50 years. President Ali
Bongo took over upon his father Omar’s death in 2009 and has made saving
Gabon’s unique wildlife, including its pristine equatorial rainforest and
elephants, a priority.

SOURCE: REUTERS NEWS AGENCY








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