The Gabonese transitional government adopted this Sunday, September 1st, a draft decree authorizing the exploitation of a precious wood, kevazingo, suspended since 2018. Kevazingo is one of the famous species of Gabon and Cameroon. The junta in power in Gabon therefore wants to revive its exploitation in a sustainable manner.
Red, black or brown in color, kevazingo is a rare and precious wood from Central Africa. Marc Ona is part of the NGO Brainforest: ” Traditionally, kevazingo is not exploited because it has medicinal virtues and a traditional power for the people of Gabon. »
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But highly prized in Asia, where it is transformed into luxury furniture, the demand for kevazingo exploded very quickly and gave rise to vast trafficking. There were compatriots who got involved in illegal exploitation. And when we have, in front of us, corrupt exploiters, we must toughen the legislation so that illegality does not take hold in the sector. ” insists Marc Ona.
The draft decree of the ruling junta aims to establish a stricter regulatory framework for the responsible exploitation of kevazingo in Gabon, a country where 90% of the world’s reserves of this wood are located.
- RFI
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