Member of the Special Delegation in charge of the Council (…) – Gabonews

2024-08-23 18:43:10

Member of the Special Delegation in charge of the Council of the Department involved in the case of illegal logging in the Department of Ogooué and Lacs

August 23, 2024

Denied in a case of illegal logging around Lake Oguemoué, Mr. NA, a member of the Special Delegation in charge of the Council of the Department of Ogooué and Lakes, has just been arrested after a joint mission carried out by the Water and Forests administration, the judicial police Lambaréné, with support from NGO conservation justice.

With the mission, which took place between June and July in the areas of Mpoundou and Bingovion, it was possible to highlight serious violations in terms of logging in this part of the Middle Ogooué province.

Mr. NA is accused in particular of logging without title, cutting and removing gasoline without authorization from the administration and fraudulent maneuvers. Facts prohibited by law and he recognized the truth.

In fact, in order to violate the law in force and cover the tracks of his involvement in the requests for authorization to cut and saw, Mr. NA used members of his family, including his daughter and son, as an administrative shield .

This maneuver is considered fraudulent and does not meet the legal requirements of the Gabonese Forest Code. Also, the quantities cultivated in a more industrial way than artisans exceeded the quantities provided for in the law.

At both sites, drums containing a tank, a barge, two Caterpillar 528 type machines, a Lucas Mill type mobile saw, evidence of numerous felled timbers (stumps) and boards, rods and rafters were found.

Evidence of large-scale industrial exploitation. The mission team also noted 268,444 m3 of sawn timber at the various sites checked.

If Mr. WNMTD, son of Mr. NA, obtained a wood cutting authorization for pit sawing in the user area of ​​Aschouka village, this was later transferred to his father.

Regarding Mrs. MNNL, despite the fact that the Water and Forestry administration did not issue her any authorization to cut wood, exploitation continued on the requested site under the command of her father and in violation of the Forestry Code. This illegal logging probably also explains why requests for community forests by organized communities have been unsuccessful.

In this area of ​​Lake Oguemoué, were it not for the dedication of the local communities united within the anonymous association, this illegal exploitation would continue. In their quest for justice, the Community Association of Lake Oguemoué (ACLO) and the NGO Conservation Justice condemned the perpetrators of this trafficking for the reasons stated above.

Although previous investigations had not been completed, this time the public mobilization led to the court and the parties expect a strong decision from the Lambaréné justice system to be an example and to strengthen the rule of law and good governance of natural resources .

The President of the ACLO association, Patrick Bengone, declared: “ what we need is responsible exploitation of the natural resources of our lake for the benefit of the local resident communities and also for future generations ».

Conservation Justice Executive Director Luc Mathot says: “ It is noteworthy that the ACLO association and the local cooperatives around Lake Oguemoué are so organized to manage their natural resources sustainably and that they seek to protect their environment. We can only encourage them and help them in their struggle ».

Putting people at the center of their activities, the transition authorities have given pride to Gabonese initiatives in entrepreneurship since they came to power. However, that connection could not be made in violation of the rights of the public and the regulatory requirements as here in the field of logging.

This overstepping by Mr. NA shows how often it is important to strengthen controls by pooling efforts between the public administration and associations in logging areas in Gabon. Because, if it is appropriate for the Gabonese to accept the economic development of the forestry sector, it must be done in accordance with the legislation and without having a negative impact on local communities. Here, it will be up to the justice to decide.

MM