Press Release – Government Press Office – April 9, 2013 – The Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, has determined that there is a supply of harvested rosewood available which had been harvested during the moratorium period.
The Ministry has decided to carefully ascertain such a supply and to allow the sale/export of already harvested rosewood over the period 8th – 26th April, 2013 to avoid the complete loss of value.
The Ministry reminds the public that the moratorium is still in effect and that it is illegal to harvest, transport, and trade in rosewood. Anyone found to be involved in the new harvesting of rosewood will be met with the full force of the law.
The public is further advised that on 14th March, 2013, at the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) a decision was taken to regulate the international trade of rosewood and that harvest and export of rosewood from Belize will fall under the CITES regulations.
For further information, kindly contact the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development at 822-0810 or 822-0401 or e-mail: [email protected].
