Ya’axché Conservation Trust

www.yaaxche.org

# 22 Alejandro Vernon Street

P.O. Box 177 Punta Gorda, Toledo District Belize,

Central America Office (phone/fax):

(+501) 722 0108 Field Centre:

(+501) 667 0864 BNR Base:

(+501) 668 1363

 10th November 2011

Hon. Dean O. Barrow

The Office of the Prime Minister

Belmopan

Belize

Dear PM Barrow,

Rosewood exploitation in the Toledo District

During a press conference on Wednesday 2nd November 2011, you indicated that you were unaware of full details regarding the exploitation of rosewood in Toledo. As an NGO that has been working to protect the forests of southern Belize since 1998, we feel it is our duty to inform you of recent events.

The last two years has seen a steady increase in the harvesting of rosewood from community lands in Toledo. It appears that this has been largely fueled by demand for raw timber from China. It has been brought to our attention that up until at least 2007, the species was protected by a customs order that prohibited the export of raw timber. It is evident that this customs order is no longer upheld, and that export permits are regularly being granted for large quantities of raw timber.

The Chief Forest Officer recently stated that rosewood was only being extracted from areas that were being cleared in preparation for agricultural use. This is absolutely not the case. Furthermore, logging season was closed from June 15th - October 15th but despite this fact, trees were still cut and timber was still stamped by Forest Department officials. It has been suggested that logging permits were issued in response to requests from individual community members who were in need of money.

Ya’axché believes that this continued exploitation of rosewood for the benefit of only a small minority is no longer acceptable. We have evidence that small trees (less than 20cm in diameter) are now being extracted. Some of this timber has been rejected by potential buyers, as it has not had sufficient time to grow and develop the valuable heartwood. This suggests that rosewood stocks on community lands may have already reached a critical level, and if logging continues at the current rate, it is likely that the species will become locally extinct. When rosewood is no longer available on community and private lands - where trees are already being systematically stolen - pressure will increase on trees in protected areas.

Allowing rosewood to be exported as raw timber means there is no investment in value-added products. It should be the responsibility of the Government of Belize to ensure that the extraction of rosewood is sustainable, and that the use of this valuable timber resource reaps the maximum benefit for the maximum number of people.

In August 2011 we sent a memorandum (attached) to the Chief Forest Officer, outlining proposals for extensive and long-overdue research on rosewood. The most urgent component of this study is a re-assessment of rosewood stocks on community lands in Toledo. We are working to secure funding for this, but even with the combined efforts of Ya’axché and the Forest Department, it may take some time to source the finances required.

In the meantime, immediate and direct action is needed. The forests of southern Belize are being degraded. The long-term effects of this degradation must be taken into account. The future benefits of an intact forest ecosystem (such as carbon sequestration and watershed protection) far outweigh the short-term financial benefits of over-harvesting a single species.

We urge you to issue a moratorium on all harvesting of rosewood, and to formally re-instate the necessary legislation that will prohibit the export of raw rosewood timber. We recommend that these two measures remain in place until such time as the Forest Department and/or Ya’axché has completed a thorough assessment of rosewood stocks on community lands in Toledo.

With kind regards,

Lisel Alamilla

Executive Director, Ya’axché Conservation Trust