Côte d'Ivoire: Illicit Timber Trade Exposes the North to Drought

Environmental groups in Côte d’Ivoire say the illegal logging and sale of wood from the African gum tree is exposing the north of the country to the encroaching desert. The NGOs are calling on the authorities to take firmer action against the illicit timber traders – who allegedly include government officials. The warning comes as a scandal centring on the seizure of 30 containers of wood sized at two of the country’s ports rocks the Ministry of Water and Forestry.