The Forestry Commission (FC) has stated that the functions of Salvage Permits issued to contractors to harvest trees from areas being used for development purposes does not restrict the sale of such timber to only domestic markets but can be exported.
But as specified in Section 38 LI 1649 of 1998 Timber Resources Management Regulations (TRMR), which states ?the Chief Conservator of forest may upon application and subject to approval by the Forestry Commission issue+ a permit subject to such terms and conditions as shall be specified therein for the salvage of trees from an area of land undergoing development such as road construction, expansion of human settlement or cultivation of farms etc?.
Mr. Raphael Yeboah, Executive Director of the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission disclosed this to journalists in Accra on alleged irregularities and malpractice issues of Salvage Permits to contractors as reported by some foreign environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).
Mr. Yeboah said, as enshrined in LI 1649, the main objective of the Salvage Permit is to prevent the destruction and waste of trees in areas undergoing development, and also raise revenue to support management operations of the Commission.
He said the Forestry Commission adheres strictly to conditions for the grant of Salvage Permits to contractors, which include that the land does not fall under Timber Utilisation Contract (TUC) that is the normal timber permit. The contractor is to be in good standing with the FSD and also his company should not have been involved in illegal forest operations over the past two years.
Mr. Yeboah explained that by Ghana?s Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) legality definition, it is permitted that such timber can be exported to any country including the European Union. He said Salvage Permits have been issued to contractors to harvest trees in the Volta Lake to enhance navigation, and also the Bui Dam area to facilitate building of the dam.
He explained that FC will make available on its website all Salvage Permits issued to contractors, and also undertake extensive educational programmes for the legal framework, processes and procedures for the issuance of Salvage Permits — which is different from the usual TUC entry permit and Timber Utilisation Permit (TUP) that are issued for non-commercial purposes.
The Chief Executive of the FC, Mr. Afari Dartey, explained that beneficiaries of Salvage Permits can use their timber for any purpose they wish — that is for export, charcoal burning, domestic sale etc. without violating any laws of the Forestry Commission.
By Kwame MENSAH
