Illegal logging is a growing feature of transnational organized crime in Africa, often facilitated by the collusion of senior officials, with far-reaching security and environmental implications for the countries affected.
Drawing from Center fro Africa Strategic Stiudies recent report, which is based on recent research and programmatic work at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, we have analyzed three ways that illegal logging affects national security and what that means for current measures to counter it.
Salif Sadio, the leader MFDC rebels has dismissed claims that his men are engage into illegal timber logging trade, adding that part of their deals for independence is to end illegal timber trade in the region.
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, he said: “we are fighting illegal timber logging and that’s part of our conditions for our freedom because any timber you see in Senegal comes either from Casamance or The Gambia or other countries. It is not true, they are lying.
Click here to access the Global Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (ILAT) Risk assessment tool and to download the Forest Trends User Guide describing the functionality of the ILAT Risk Data Tool.
Click here to access the Cattle Data Tool.