Government has with immediate effect suspended the issuance and renewal of forest concessions in order to coordinate the process of reviewing the new regulations.
Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister, Christabel Ngimbu says the suspension will be in effect until all the new regulations and procedures are completed.
Mrs. Ngimbu says government is in the process of reviewing old regulations and develop new ones in order to enhance sustainable management of the country’s forest resources.
She says government will also require regulations to operationalise the new Forest Act number 4 of 2015 which came into effect in August this year.
Mrs. Ngimbu says the new Forest Act has a number of features that address emerging issues in the forest sector.
The Minister announced the measures at a Media briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday.
