24 Jan 2017

Department of Forestry and Range Resources (DFRR) informs the general public that DFRR has stopped issuing harvesting permits for Phane and is requesting the public to stop harvesting and return home from harvesting sites immediately.

A news release from DFRR states that this decision was reached as a conservation measure to allow this Phane to pupate or burrow into the ground and become stock for the next season so as to increase the severely reduced numbers of Mophane worms in the country.

The release further states that the department applauds some harvesters for having been very cooperative in the last harvesting season, though some unsustainable harvesting practices were reported in some areas of Bobirwa Sub -district (e.g Tsetsebjwe, Molalatau and Mathathane) where harvesters turned out in large numbers.

“The observed bad practice include cutting down Mophane tree branches as well as harvesting Phane which was escaping or burrowing into the ground to become stock for the next season,” states the release.

The public is informed that this unsustainable harvesting practice is punishable according to Botswana Laws (Agricultural Resources Conservation Act).

The department also reminds the public that an export permit is required at export points when Phane is exported, and that issuance of export permits is not affected by this development and therefore is ongoing at DFRR offices.

Harvesters are requested to always adhere to regulations and/or conditions stipulated on the export permit.BOPA