The Prime Minister and cabinet members have commended the highly positive implementation of Prime Minister’s Decree No 15 on intensifying the management and inspection of timber exploitation, timber transport and timber businesses. 

At the monthly cabinet meeting held on Aug 29, an ad hoc delivered a report on the implementation of Order No 15 highlighting the sound cooperation the line ministries, equivalent agencies and local administrations at all levels across the country have given to the implementation of Order No 15 by translating the order into instructions, legal instruments, and establishing ad hoc committees.

Ad hoc committees at various levels have recorded more than 270,407 cubic metres of timber abandoned at yards across the country. This includes over 79,182 cubic metres of tax paid timber worth 43.2 billion kip ​(US$5.33 million) and over 55,421 cubic metres of timber seized as state property (over 7,378 cubic metres of which has been already sold).

​These timbers were logged before the issuance of Order No 15/PM, according to the spokesperson of the Government Chaleun Yiapaoher. 

The survey by the ad hoc committees indicate that 2,749 timber processing factories were identified before the issuance of the order; 1,154 family-run furniture factories were operating without permission; and that almost 30 timber processing factories were located close to national parks, production forests and protected areas.

Timber loaders have been seized with saw machines, and over 1,253 chain saws and 2,083 chain saw parts were also seized.

Khammuan Province seized two trucks loaded with 4 cubic metres of rosewood smuggled from Savannakhet Province. Meanwhile, officers at the Lao Vietnamese border checkpoint in Namphao-Kaocheo stopped a cement truck loaded with smuggled sawn timber weighing seven tonnes.

Savannakhet reported the seizure of illegal timber amounting to more than 1,500 cubic metres.

“Order No 15/PM has been implemented broadly, by both central and local authorities, and in a prompt and effective manner.  And it has been supported and praised by people of all ethnic groups, all social strata, among both domestic people and foreigners, and has thus resulted in an increase in the trust in the government among people,” said Mr Chaleun.

Earlier this month, the government announced the list of wooden products that will be allowed to be exported overseas.

The list includes sawdust, white charcoal, flooring parquet and parquet for interior decoration purposes, chip board, wooden utensils, wooden products for interior decoration purposes, wooden handicrafts, wooden furniture, bamboo and rattan products, farmed timber for construction purposes, as well as eucalyptus and Acacia timber with a diameter of less than 12 cm, pulp from farmed trees, pieces and dust of Agar wood, and bamboo and bamboo products.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by B Thao Phasavath

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