Three Senegalese Ministers denounce illegal trafficking in redwood timber exports to China

Illegal timber exploitation 

Senegalese Armed Forces Minister, Augustin Tine, was out visiting Medina Yoro Foulah Kunda Department in the south eastern part of Senegal to see first hand the environmental devastation illegal logging has done to the area.

"It is scary what we saw in the department", the minister declared, suggesting that the wanton destruction of the environment by the indiscriminate and illegal exploitation of the forest cover by traffickers in redwood is "destroying the future and the Senegalese economy and that is unacceptable."

The Armed Forces Minister was accompanied by the Ministers of the Interior and the Environment to see the impact of timber trafficking in the area.  They were accompanied by the Regional Manager of Water and Forests.  According to reports, "they were shaken by the sight of the receding forest, leaving the slash and burn trees in its wake."

The three ministers reaffirmed their commitment of the State to fight against illegal trafficking in forest products that is primarily taking place between The Gambia and Senegal.

For more on the illegal trafficking in timber and the role Jammeh plays, click here.