Luanda - The Angolan Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, is working to put an end to the illegal exploitation of flora and disorderly deforestation of Angolan forests, the Secretary of State for Forests, João Cunha, said on Wednesday in Luanda.
Speaking to the press, on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of five private investment contracts, valued at more than 300 million dollars, the leader recalled that the sector has seen some illegal deforestation, essentially resulting from coal exploration, a fact which forces the Government to develop programs that aim to create sustainable alternatives for family income and maintain the preservation of flora.
He pointed to the current deforestation that is taking place in Serra da Leba, Huíla province, as one of the examples of the anarchic deforestation that is taking place in the country.
In this case, he said, the sector is providing families with a program to promote the production of coffee and other food and commercial species, to avoid actions that damage the environment.
He assured that similar programs will be carried out in other provinces, with the introduction of alternatives and solutions that guarantee families a sustainable income.
According to the Secretary of State, reforestation is part of the actions that the sector has developed, encouraging businesspeople and families to value vacant land.
On the other hand, he considered the signing of the aforementioned contracts to be of extreme importance, essentially, for the provinces of Benguela and Huambo, in the forestry sector.
According to João Cunha, these agreements will allow the logging of eucalyptus, with a reforestation component.
With this, he said, the country will produce more wood for the national and international market, without harming the environment. ASS/QCB/DOJ
