A leading international organization on trade in wild animals and plants called TRAFFIC has welcomed the Zambian government’s decision to sign a new law that bans the movement of Mukula trees from Zambia.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Jean Kapata recently signed a Statutory instrument which banned all “In Transit” timber within the country.
17 species of timber have been specified within the official Statutory Instrument, with the most notable inclusions pertaining to Pterocarpus chrysothrix (mukula)—a threatened species most commonly sourced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
TRAFFIC said in a statement posted on its website that the move is encouraging for East African forestry management and timber trade.
It said the decision addresses ongoing international concerns that the country is being exploited by smuggling networks to transport timber to lucrative markets overseas, with primary destinations including China and Viet Nam.
“TRAFFIC welcomes Zambia’s move to restrict the movement of timber in response to concerns over disease introductions and is encouraged by the country’s commitment to address timber trade issues. TRAFFIC would further encourage Zambia to consider becoming a signatory to the Zanzibar Declaration, a regional agreement aiming to ensure timber trade flows within eastern and southern Africa are carried out legally,” said David Newton, TRAFFIC’s Director of East and Southern Africa.
Zambia’s announcement comes in the wake of increasing scrutiny of East African timber trade as well as calls for forest?related multilateral agreements between countries within the region.
Earlier this month, eastern African nations including Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar, and mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, launched a steering committee for the Zanzibar Declaration on illegal timber trade.
TRAFFIC’s recent report Overview of the Timber Trade in East and Southern Africa: National Perspectives and Regional Trade Linkages highlights the urgent need to address issues undermining legal, sustainable timber production in East Africa.
The report includes recommendations to tighten cross-border enforcement and encourage better sharing of data to motivate management decisions such as the one taken by the Zambian government.
i know one Indian colored from Makeni Simson who deals with Mukula tree. He is marreid to a drunken nurse who worksfor Coptic hospital in Lsk.
Ba Minister we know you,These are mere pronouncements.
The government has less officers in the ministry of lands. I think if they employ many offers deportation of mukula tree will be less.
I’m bus Driver under capital buses(flash), and i went to college in 2010 to 2013 when i got my diploma and up to now there is no job, i’m still a Driver.
Please help us forester
best regards
Mweemba frank
May I ask: Bushe Mukula Tree how does it look like? The reason why I am asking is because, how come Zambians did not know this tree many years ago only today, Mukula Mukula Mukula. Is it a money spinner Trees, and what is it used for. It has become so popular than that it can even be in History. Is it that Zambians we are dull that outsiders make money from our County when we are fast asleep. Me I know Umulombwa, Umubanga which we use for Imipini ya masembe or Inkasu. What is this mukula tree?
@ Mentor. Mukuula looks almost like mulombwa. If it z flesh, when chopped, reddish fluid flows just like mulombwa. When pearled off its burk and white outer layer, the inner z brownish to pinckish orange, quiet flammable.
Let the govt come out and tell us the truth about the banning of this exportation of this logs. Zambia is very much in need of any commodity which if exported can earn us huge dollars and strengthen our currency. And we hear top govt officials has bn in this illegal trade for some years. They v pocketed themselves a lot of dollars which is supposed to go to gvt coffers or add to GDP. Why are we being blanketed?
Comment: Mukula tree is used to make gun butts,it has three layers.
Now my concern is,why should the government ban and it now and yet people were given legal licences and yet the license is very expensive K 3000 000.