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New EUDR Risk? Gabon Junta to Relax Rules on High-Risk Timbers

Huge volumes of kevazingo trees are exported to China as part of the country's "manufacturing black box"


Mon 02 Sep 24

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Exactly one year after military leaders seized power in Gabon and named head of the presidential guard Brice Oligui Nguema as their leader, the junta has relaxed key logging rules that protect a highly trafficked hardwood used by Chinese manufacturers to make tables and guitars – for European, the United States and further afield.

That is according to Reuters, which reports that the kevazingo tree, which can take up to 500 years to grow 40 metres, will now be permitted after Gabon leaders reversed a 2018 decision banned cutting amid concerns that the highly valuable tree was being trafficked in huge uncontrolled quantities.

According to a statement provided by the Gabon Council of Ministers on Saturday, logging will be permitted in “sustainably managed concessions” as long as it’s supported by geo-referencing and a CITES permit:

“By promoting local processing, the decree stimulates the economic development of forest regions and creates new employment opportunities.”

The government decree published by the Gabon Council fo Ministers on Saturday.

The reversal came after Gabon’s last elected president, Ali Bongo, succeeded his father in 2009 and banned the export of raw wood and expanded protected areas. Gabon has been a productive hub for timber poachers, illegal logging and the illicit wildlife trade – with President Bongo firing his former Vice President, as well as Forestry Minister (in 2019) when more than 300 containers of kevazingo cargo went missing.

Brice Oligui Nguema is the leader of the coup in Gabon who ousted the French installed leader. Photo Credit Twitter Wood Central
Brice Oligui Nguema was the coup leader in Gabon who ousted the French-installed leader.
Gabon’s forest economy

Last year, Wood Central revealed that Gabon is a major regional player in processed forest exports. With over 88% of the country covered in a tropical rainforest, Gabon’s second-highest export is now timber.

According to former Minister of Forests Lee White, Gabon is the second most forested country on earth by forest area. The country manufactures and exports thinly sliced veneer overproduced wood to give furniture, cabinets, and flooring a polished look.

According to the UK-based Timber Trade Portal, over 40% of timber product exports end up in China, with 30% of processed exports ending up in the EU.  In recent years, Gabon has substituted European trading partners with China – making the country one of Africa’s most important destinations for the Chinese forestry sector. 

In a 2021 report, Forest Trends reported that “timber sourced from Gabon is used in Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian-manufactured products that are likely entering European and US markets.”

Pre-Covid, Gabon produced 801,000 cubic metres of sawn wood (82% for export), 271,000 cubic metres of veneer (47% for export), 64,000 cubic metres of plywood (50% for export) and 2,320 cubic metres of logs (less than 2% for export). 

EUDR sparks furniture crisis leaving 50% of imports at risk!

In July, Wood Central reported that 40% of Europe’s total imports of timber furniture come from China, with a significant portion of the raw wood used for the merchandise coming from faraway places like Gabon.

As it stands, timber furniture is one of the industries at greatest risk from EUDR, with environmental groups warning that imports from war-torn Ukraine (Europe’s third largest furniture market) are also “high risk” as per the EUDR’s terms and definitions.

China has joined the United States in pushing back against key parts of the EUDR. (Photo Credit: Image ID:2M4TTFX via Alamy Stock Images)
Huge volumes of kevazingo trees are trafficked from Gabon to China, with China now leading the charge in opposing the EUDR – which has pledged to address gaps in supply chains for imported forest products. (Photo Credit: Image ID:2M4TTFX via Alamy Stock Images)

It comes after Wood Central last week revealed that China—responsible for more than 40% of Europe’s total timber furniture market—is now threatening to leave European markets over “security concerns” with geolocational data.

As per the most recent data obtained by Eurostat, the EU’s statistics bureau, more than 77,000 tonnes of furniture imported by the EU (for April) came from China, followed by Ukraine – 22,200 tonnes, Turkey – 17,000 tonnes, Vietnam – 11,600 tonnes and Indonesia – 8,100 tonnes.

Author

  • Jason Ross

    Jason Ross, publisher, is a 15-year professional in building and construction, connecting with more than 400 specifiers. A Gottstein Fellowship recipient, he is passionate about growing the market for wood-based information. Jason is Wood Central's in-house emcee and is available for corporate host and MC services.

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