Zanzibar bans fuel-powered chainsaws in tree harvesting

ZANZIBAR DEPUTY MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES AND FISHERIES DR MAKAME USSI.

A TOTAL of 77 fuel-powered chainsaws have been impounded in 246 patrols conducted by the Forestry Department in the Isles that were used in illegal tree-cutting.

This was revealed by the Zanzibar Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Natural resources and Fisheries Dr Makame Ussi when responding to various issues raised by members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives on the effects to the environment from tree-cutting using fuel-powered chainsaws.

He said the chainsaws have been banned due to environmental destruction whereas fruit, coconut and mango are wantonly cut down for timber and charcoal use.

He said in the two year period more than 200 coconut trees were cut for use as timber and other to give room for construction of human settlements.

“Hon Speaker, I would like to inform all the citizens that powered chainsaws have been banned due to the increase of the effects of environmental destruction including wanton tree cutting,” he said.

He said as of now there are people who are invading farms during the night to cut coconut trees for timber.

“We have received complaints, there are people who invade farms during night time to cut down coconut trees for timber… hence we are banning the use of powered chainsaws,” he said.

He said the issue of banning the chainsaws is not debatable because there is a danger for the disappearance of some important trees for future generations.

“Some of such trees have slowly started disappearing due to their wanton cutting – they include tangerine, baobab and others,” he added.