Gambia government bans all timber exports to combat rosewood smuggling

The Gambia has banned timber exports and revoked all export licenses to try to combat illegal smuggling in the country.

The ban has come into effect immediately, and the port authorities have been instructed to refuse to load timber logs onto any vessel.

In 2020, an investigation revealed that vast quantities of protected West African Rosewood were being trafficked through the country from Senegal.

Much of it ends up in China, where it is used to make furniture.

It has been listed as an endangered species since 2017, and last month Cites, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, called on seven countries, including The Gambia, to suspend their trade.

The Gambia is consistently among the five largest global exporters of West African Rosewood (Pterocarpus Erinaceus), despite declaring its own stocks close to extinction almost a decade ago.

By value and by volume, rosewood is one of the most trafficked wildlife products in the world.

Also called Hongmu or "redwood

", it is prized for its color and durability and is primarily used for antique-style furniture.

Statistics showed that China imported more than 300,000 tonnes from The Gambia between 2017 and 2020.