Maputo — A prominent Mozambican NGO, the Rural Mutual Help Association (ORAM), has described as alarming the way some dishonest businessmen are exploiting the country's forestry and wildlife resources, particularly in Sofala, Zambezia, and Nampula provinces, reports Tuesday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias".

ORAM notes that the way those operators behave does not benefit the local communities by creating jobs or improving socio-economic infrastructures.

The association's assistant director, Reinaldo Sive, said in Beira, the Sofala capital, during the launching of a national radio campaign on forestry and wildlife, that sustainable use of these resources could have a positive impact on reducing absolute poverty in the country.

"It is up to all of us to join hands and ensure that the law on forestry and wildlife becomes an instrument in the fight against absolute poverty", he said, adding that Mozambique has great potential for industrial and community development based on forest resources.

A 1994 inventory says that about 78 per cent of the country's territory is covered with various kinds of forest, but pressure has grown for the exploitation of these forests since the end of the war of destabilisation.

"These facts call on us to be cautious and endeavour to make sustainable use of our resources, despite the huge forested areas we have", said Sive.

ORAM believes that, if properly applied, the existing law, policies and regulations on forests and wildlife would help reduce the problems in that sector and enhance economic growth.

Sive blames the weak enforcement of the law on, among other questions, poor inspection capacity, and attempts by operators to avoid their duty to consult with local communities.

The Sofala Provincial Agriculture director, Joao Ribeiro, said that there are about two million hectares of forest in that region, particularly in the Marromeu, Cheringoma, Muanza and Maringue districts.

He said that these resources should be used to maximum benefit of the residents, while minimising the negative impact of their exploitation. Properly used, he said, these forests could generate employment, and improve household income and diet.

Ribeiro warned that "the sharp degradation of natural resources, particularly deforestation and unregulated slaughtering of wildlife, is extremely unpleasant and of great concern. Thus the government and the institutions of the sector have been working out laws, policies, strategies, and regulations to bring the situation under control".