The Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF) is considering export of wood-based products as one of the means to stabilise the country’s economy that remain disrupted due to the pandemic. Today, there are over a million cubic feet of unused timber in the country.
According to the Agriculture and Forests Minister, Bhutan imported more than Nu 3bn worth of wood and wood-based products last year. On the other hand, its export is comparatively negligible.
So, to offset such expenditure which will directly contribute to the government exchequer, the MoAF wants to export wood and wood-based products after value addition as much as possible.
Today, the export of timber as logs and firewood is prohibited under the law.
“Over 1.3 million cubic feet of wood or timber remain unused. This is why the government is looking at the feasibility of exporting such timber. After a certain point, trees that do not absorb carbon dioxide eventually rot. We will identify and extract such trees which, for now, are in abundance in our forests,” said Yeshey Penjor, The MoAF Minister.
As per the proposal, the ministry is looking at importing technology and build the capacity of local wood-based firms to add value to raw timbers.
Meanwhile, Lyonpo Yeshey Penjore said the recent article ‘Bhutan considers exploiting forests to offset pandemic losses’ is not entirely true. ‘The Third Pole’, an international environment conservation platform, published the article. He refuted saying the government will not exploit the forest resources beyond its regeneration capacity.
“The article by The Third Pole is not entirely true. They reflected as if the government will cut down all the trees and export it to generate income,” Lyonpo said.
The ministry’s report detailing export of the country’s forest resource and extraction of matured and old trees will be submitted to the Cabinet tomorrow.
Tshering Dendup
