The Forestry Department is reporting that it has disrupted a sizeable illegal logging operation in St Mary. The agency says the department, with the support of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), on Thursday completed the seizure and removal of over 900 pieces of illegal harvested timber from the Cape Clear forest estate. It says the pieces of wood, which were sawn into planks, were discovered during a routine patrol of the forest estate.
The Forestry Department says forest rangers discovered the illegal 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 a media release.
Following the discovery, the agency immediately made plans for the removal of the items, which were done over two days ending on Thursday. The department says the total amount of lumber removed at the end of the operation is 927 pieces of lumber - 804 pieces of board and 133 pieces of planks. It says most of the lumber is identified as Spanish Elm (over 50 percent) 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, the depart.
