We've been reporting on the logging license being considered for Woodmark Designs, which would allowing them to log in the western Hardwoods of the Mountain Pine Ridge.
The Chief Forest Officer and leading conservationists have warned against it, saying that it will affect the watershed in that area. That specific part of the forest also has not been commercially logged in over 50 years - according to the Chief Forest Officer. But is the government going to ignore possible negative effects a logging license could cause?
The PM said not so. He told us that of course they want to preserve the forest and that the person who leaked the contract was doing it for political mischief. Here's what he told us.
John Briceno, Prime Minister:
"I really wish our journalists would be more responsible."
"I was a minister of responsible and natural resources and the Forestry Department."
"The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve was set up by the British probably almost a hundred years ago. It is for logging. Now, during my time we started to talk about sustainable logging. And that is what we've been doing."
"From what I spoke to some of the technicians in the Forestry Department. They're saying, "What does this company do? They are applying for a sustainable management contract with them." We have that already. We have it in the Chiquibul. Bulridge is working in the Chiquibul with a sustainable logging. I don't hear nobody cry over it.with enforcement of course, it will run very well. You could ask Amin Bedran. So now, what they've been trying to do is sustainable."
"It's unfortunate that a disgruntled member of the department leaked that to Channel 7 to create political mischief. We are finally doing it the right way. We want to protect the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. It's in our interest to protect it. It is our responsibility to do that. And that's exactly what we're doing."
