Short term logging licenses - they are a favourite of politicians - who ask for them on behalf of their campaign contributors and constituents all the time.
They are also the main avenue to abuses like the one we saw in Boston village.
Well, now, they are being put on a five year pause.
A release says that on the recommendation of the Forest Department, the Minister of Sustainable Development has agreed to implement a moratorium on the issuance of Short-term Forest Licenses and Petty Permits for the cutting and harvesting of trees from national land throughout the country of Belize to commence December 1, 2025 for a period of five (5) years.
Furthermore, individual applications for Short-term Forest Licenses and Petty Permits for the cutting and harvesting of trees from lands held under leases will be reviewed more stringently and meticulously with a view towards conservation and protection.
The release adds that the moratorium and the increased scrutiny of applications have become necessary due to mounting evidence of forest stock depletion and increased pressures being placed on young and regenerating forest stands as a result of the unsustainable extraction of trees.
The Forest Department says that "the moratorium will allow a period for threatened, degraded and over harvested forests to regenerate thereby allowing young trees to grow and reach merchantable sizes, improve ecosystem services and increase the forests' ability to withstand and recover from forest fires and other threats.
