24 February 2014: The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme of the European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) in collaboration with the University of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) released a report on the state of illegal logging in Mozambique.

Overall, the report reveals that approximately two-thirds of logging carried out in Mozambique is unlicensed, with a large proportion of the illegal timber consumed locally. The report also notes that efforts to address the problem, including promoting the use of lesser known and plantation species, as well as strengthening the legal regulatory framework, have not reduced the rate of illegal logging. In fact, the report states that the rate of illegal logging increased by 88 per cent between 2007 and 2012.

The report also presents recommendations on addressing illegal logging including: increasing support for sustainable forest management (SFM), strengthening monitoring systems on illegal logging, targeting legislation and law enforcement for the harvesting of undersized trees, and addressing logging outside logging areas and in excess of permits. [FAO Press Release][Publication: Assessment of Harvested Volume and Illegal Logging in Mozambican Natural Forest]