‘Forest patrols doubled to prevent illegal logging’

AMMAN — The Agriculture Ministry has doubled the number of its forest patrols to prevent illegal logging, which increases with the onset of winter, a government official said on Sunday.

The forestry department and the Rangers are carrying out intensive campaigns in areas with dense green cover to prevent illegal logging, Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin told The Jordan Times.

“Since the cold weather started, the ministry and the Rangers increased the number of inspection patrols in forests and also stationed several patrols at entrances and exits of forest areas to apprehend perpetrators,” Haddadin said.

In 2012, the ministry decided to allow the import of wood and coal for heating purposes, he added.

“We opened the door for the import of wood and coal to meet the local demand and thus reduce violations on forests. Despite the decision, not a single trader applied for an import licence,” Haddadin noted.

The government official explained that those who sell wood for heating purposes find illegal logging much easier and more convenient than importing.

Meanwhile, the Public Security Department (PSD) said its patrols are stopping trucks in forest areas and inspecting their cargo, as part of measures to prevent illegal logging.

In a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times, the PSD called on the public to help the authorities prevent violations on the country’s forests and report cases of illegal logging by calling its unified number 911.

In addition, Haddadin urged motorists to call the police or any of its forestry departments if they see trucks loaded with trees.

Forestry department director Eid Zu’bi told The Jordan Times recently that 99 per cent of wild fires in Jordan are deliberate, started by a group of people who destroy part of the forest to come back later for illegal logging.

Under environmental regulations, those who cut down forest trees without a licence face a three-month prison term, as well as a JD100 fine for each tree chopped down from state-owned land and JD50 for one from private land. In addition, their equipment is confiscated.

Ajloun Governorate, 70km northwest of Amman, is a target for illegal loggers because it is rich with forest trees, which cover the majority of its terrain, according to the ministry.

During the past three months, the Rangers registered 26 cases of illegal logging, according to Environment Ministry figures.

Illegal logging during winter, fires during summer and insufficient rain due to climate change are the main threats to the Kingdom’s shrinking green cover.

Forests in Jordan constitute less than 1 per cent of the country’s total area of 97,000 square kilometres.

Jordan is among the poorest countries worldwide in terms of forest cover, with the internationally accepted average of land covered by forests standing at 15 per cent of the total area.