OVER 1,000 CUBIC METERS OF WOOD IS ILLEGALLY CUT IN JABLANICA DISTRICT PER YEAR

17. July 2018.

Leskovac, Medvedja - Illegal logging is a major problem in almost all countries in the world. In addition to small fines which are designed for poachers of lumber in Serbia, the problem is that people are not aware of the consequences arising from indiscriminate and complete felling of trees.

Zoran Momic, Director of forest holdings in Leskovac, says that between 1,000 and 1,200 cubic meters of wood are illegally felled in the territory of the Jablanica district, which, in addition to large financial losses, is very bad for the environment

Mr. Momic says that state-owned forests, which they manage, spread over 41,000 acres, while wood thefts are more common in the areas that are closer to the roads.

Private forests located in the territory of the Jablanica district, which are also the target of poachers of lumber, spread over an area of about 105,000 hectares. It is worrying, says Mr. Momic, that full felling of trees is frequently done in those areas, which is extremely harmful to the environment.

Mr. Momic says that the preservation and protection of forests in the Jablanica District takes place through 6 forest administrations, which are Vucje, Predejane, Vlasotince, Crna Trava, Medvedja and Lebane There are 35 regional forest rangers in that territory, who go on tours of the forests at least once in 10 days.

Mr. Momic believes that a greater number of people, as well as better equipment and machinery, would enable a greater degree of control, which would result in a reduction in illegal logging.

Although forest rangers monitor the situation, the areas covered with forests are large, so that there is always a possibility of illegal deforestation in some parts of the forests. What also sucks is that people are not informed about the consequences that their negligence has on the environment.

In addition to the lack of people’s awareness, Mr. Momic says, the problem is that the penalties for those who are proven to have illegally fell trees are symbolic, ranging from suspended ones to up around 30,000 dinars.

He says that more specific restrictive policy, which would give better results, is needed.

Source: South Serbia News and Coordination Body