Govt extends the deadline for application of new timber concessions by a month

The Ministry of Green Economy and Environment has extended the deadline for application of new timber concessions by a month, from 31st may 2022 to 30th June, 2022. 

Following the advertisement that was published in the Zambia Daily Mail on 14th April, 2022 calling for applications for new concession licenses, various stakeholders have raised concerns that they may fail to fulfill the requirements by the deadline. 

Green Economy and Environment Minister Collins Nzovu says it is against this background that, in the spirit of being inclusive and economically empowering Zambian citizens, the government has extended the deadline. 

Mr. Nzovu is encouraging applicants to undertake all requirements of the application process and submit the same to the various offices of the forestry department across the country as they wait for the decision letter for their Environmental Project Brief (EPB) from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

He says after the close of the application period on 30th June 2022, the ministry will proceed with evaluation of the applications.

And the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment says it remains available to work with all stakeholders in improving service delivery and ensuring a speedy transformation of the country to a green economy.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment John Msimuko says there is need to implement green growth actions as articulated in the green growth strategy for Zambia in order to transition into a green economy.

Speaking in a speech read on his behalf by Director Green Economy and Climate Change Ephraim Shitima during the opening of the broad stakeholders’ consultative workshop on the concept note for the development of the green growth strategy, Mr. Msimuko says the strategy will provide opportunities to embed wider climate change, green economy and environmental considerations into decision making.

And Mr. Msimuko has appealed for support from cooperating and development partners to ensure that government delivers a credible green growth strategy.