Illegal logging is one of the most significant environmental crimes affecting Africa, costing the continent an estimated $17 billion annually. The high global demand for African hardwood, particularly rosewood, has fueled this destructive trade. Rosewood, the world’s most trafficked wildlife product by value and volume, exemplifies the challenge. In just a decade, Africa’s share of illegal rosewood exports to China surged from 40% in 2008 to 90% by 2018, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Environmental Investigation Agency revealed that over five years, more than three million tonnes of rosewood, valued at over $2 billion, were illicitly traded between West Africa and China. The Gambia, a biodiversity-rich nation, has been severely impacted. Despite being a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 1977, The Gambia saw the illegal export of 1.6 million rosewood trees between 2012 and 2020.
The illicit trade operates through clandestine networks involving local loggers, dealers, and complicit officials. Bribery enables illegally sourced timber to be transported to ports, often smuggled in mislabeled containers to China. In Senegal’s Casamance region, a major source of illegal rosewood, separatist insurgents rely on the trade to fund their activities, exacerbating regional instability.
Political elitism has compounded the issue. During Yahya Jammeh’s presidency in The Gambia, rosewood trafficking surged. Jammeh’s timber company, Westwood Gambia, was accused of exploiting the country’s resources and funding the Casamance insurgency. In response, CITES implemented a 2022 ban on the felling, transportation, and export of Senegal rosewood in all affected African nations.
The Gambian government followed suit, revoking timber permits, banning exports, and enacting stricter forestry regulations. However, enforcement remains inconsistent, hindered by corruption, limited resources, and the economic desperation of rural communities reliant on illegal logging for survival.
Recommended Stories
While these measures demonstrate political will, they alone are insufficient to address the root causes of illegal logging. Sustainable solutions must integrate conservation with economic opportunities for local communities. This is where ecotourism offers potential.
Ecotourism, when rooted in sustainable forest management, balances conservation and economic development. It offers a dual benefit: protecting endangered forests and creating alternative livelihoods. The Gambia’s rich biodiversity could serve as a foundation for nature-based tourism, with locals engaged as eco-guides, lodge operators, or artisans.
Agroforestry and sustainable agriculture also provide viable alternatives. These practices enhance community resilience to climate change, reduce reliance on logging, and improve livelihoods. The Gambia’s 2022 Agroforestry Strategy aims to strengthen natural resources to support both conservation and community wellbeing.
International collaboration is vital. Joint initiatives between The Gambia and Senegal, such as enhanced border patrols and intelligence-sharing, must be reinforced with better financial and technological resources. Digital traceability systems can disrupt timber laundering, while financial intelligence can track illicit profits.
Transparency in forestry practices is equally crucial. By publishing information on logging quotas and timber permits, The Gambia can demonstrate accountability and build trust. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s support for ecotourism initiatives can further strengthen these efforts.
Illegal logging in Africa is a complex issue, deeply entwined with poverty, corruption, and global demand. While bans and policies are necessary, they must be complemented by sustainable development strategies that empower local communities. The Gambia’s biodiversity and international partnerships provide a platform for progress, but achieving lasting change requires a commitment to balancing conservation with economic opportunity.
