Belize has a lumber crisis caused by failing forestry policies

Finding hardwood lumber in Belize is becoming increasingly difficult. As I recently stated to someone, “selling lumber these days feels more like playing a game of Go Fish.” What’s going on? Some natural disaster that wiped out our jungles? A plague that’s killing the trees? Fires? Or an economic downturn stopping logging? … well, no, none of the above. The scarcity is due to policies implemented by our Government. Lumber is fast disappearing, and this is the middle of dry season when it should be most plentiful, and ONLY the beginning of a 5-year ban on much of the logging which was previously allowed. Daily, we at Linda Vista Lumber Yard are forced to decline orders. Just today we had a furniture maker come all the way from Punta Gorda Town desperate to find lumber to finish an order he’d started. Those being impacted by this are not just a few loggers; the ripple effect is huge, negatively impacting all prefabricated home builders, contractors, furniture makers, loggers, new homeowners trying to build, investors moving to Belize, resorts trying to build or simply maintain lumber structures… the list goes on. Behind each one of these are hundreds, even thousands of employees, and behind them are all their families depending on them for stable income. Has our Government discussed any of these policy ideas with stakeholders before implementing them? No, not that either. To be fair, the Government of Belize is working to preserve the Belizean jungle. Yet creating policies without any prior discussion with those most directly impacted is unjust and does not serve the people of this country. Nor does it rest well with those who voted for the current Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, and are now being disregarded. Nor is it truly “sustainable” or “developing.” HERE ARE MY SUGGESTIONS: Make conditions more favorable to importing hardwoods from other countries. We actually tried this about 3 years back, but due to excessively high duties, had to stop the process. How can the Government discourage logging, yet also discourage other sources? Incorporate longer-term logging licenses and make replanting mandatory. A shorter season only forces loggers away instead of implementing a more sustainable system. Large tracts of land can be blocked up, logged selectively in rotation, and after some years rotate back to the original land area. This is not just a theory, but was already practiced previously by Yalbac Sawmill — they could essentially log forever. I hereby call on our Government to reassess this situation. I call on Minister Orlando Habet to create new policies WITH the people. I call on all those affected by this lumber crisis to speak up. This is only year 1… By Scott Varro Manager of Linda Vista Lumber Yard DISCLAIMER: This statement reflects the personal opinion of Scott Varro and does not represent the views, opinions, or official position of BBN. The post Belize has a lumber crisis caused by failing forestry policies appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.