No illegal felling of trees for firewood: Oman's ministry clarifies

Muscat: Reacting to videos being circulated on social media about the failure of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) to prevent the felling of trees for firewood, the Ministry has issued a detailed statement denying that the wood being used was illegally procured.

The videos led to demands including the dismissal of employees of the Ministry for failing to safeguard Oman's environment. However, in its statement issued last Wednesday, MECA said, "The Ministry has followed up on circulated videos about tree wood being used as firewood at one site and we would like to report that specialists from the Ministry visited the site to verify the source of the wood."

"The Ministry is following the process of cutting down trees for using wood and tracking permits granted to citizens. According to rules, the export of tree wood of all kinds is not permitted. Legal action will be taken for any violations," the Ministry said. Citizens were not satisfied with the ministry's statement and demanded more stringent measures, environmental monitoring and no temporary solutions.

Suliman Al Akhzami, Director of the Department of Environmental Protection at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, said: “Those people in some videos have permits from the Ministry to collect firewood from various sources such as development projects or some farms or roads which saw trees removed. Currently, the Ministry is taking action with the relevant authorities to verify the sources of this firewood.”

“There are observers from the Ministry in all governorates, but there are challenges due to the vast area of the Sultanate and the diversity of topography. Observers make strenuous efforts to reduce these violations and among the efforts made by the ministry is to prevent the export of firewood outside the borders of the Sultanate.” Suliman added

Suliman Al Akhzami said : “This permit, which was circulated in the social media is an old permit and the man has a new permit and people are defaming him and this is an illegal procedure. Information must be checked from the source.”

Suleiman Al Akhzami called on citizens to be sure of the authenticity of these videos and not to be dragged into rumors.