THE FORESTRY Department, with the support of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), recently seized and removed more than 900 pieces of illegally harvested timber from the Cape Clear Forest Estate in St Mary. The pieces of wood, which were sawn into planks, were discovered during a routine patrol of the forest estate. The team of Forest Rangers discovered the sizeable, illegal logging operation on October 15.
“Upon discovery, the team proceeded to affix Notices of Seizure and mark the items. The officers also made a report to the Richmond Police Station, to ensure the police are aware in the event of attempts to remove the lumber before the agency commenced said process,” said Tanika Stewart, senior director, forest enforcement services at the Forestry Department, in an October 24 press release on the seizure. Following the discovery, the agency made plans for the removal of the items, done over two days.
The total amount removed at the end of the operation is 927 pieces of lumber – 804 pieces of board and 133 pieces of planks. Most of the lumber have been identified as Spanish elm (over 50 per cent), while other species identified are deal, also known as popnut and sweetwood. Preliminary investigations indicate that the operation was well organised and took place over several weeks.
Additionally, it has been found that the people who cut the lumber had purchased the stands of trees from an individual who claimed ownership of the forested property. “I want to encourage.
