Forestry Officers Crack Down on Illegal Logging, Face Rising Threats

The Forest Department is intensifying efforts to combat illegal logging and the extraction of forest materials, as the Deputy Chief Forest Officer, John Pinelo, detailed in an exclusive interview with News 5.

Pinelo explained that illegal activity goes far beyond the removal of timber, extending to wildlife, bush sticks, bay leaves, pimento sticks, and other non-timber forest products. “We recently passed a moratorium that does not allow extraction of material from national land,” he said, citing the depletion of trees and young growth as a major concern. “People are selling hundreds of bush sticks to build one house. Those are 500 potential trees lost from the forest.”

Under the new regulations, only private landowners or individuals with legitimate leases can obtain permits to extract forest materials. The move, Pinelo said, has led some to illegally harvest materials from private lands, despite the legal restrictions on national lands.

To combat these activities, the Forestry Department launched a hotline three months ago (610-1524) to report illegal extraction. “The hotline has helped us tremendously,” Pinelo said. “Over the Christmas holidays, we responded to at least six incidents, including a 50-foot truckload of bay leaf with no permits.” He added that forestry staff have been working tirelessly during holidays, when illegal loggers often operate.

The crackdown has resulted in numerous arrests and charges totalling approximately $50,000 in penalties over the past three months.

Pinelo also addressed safety concerns, revealing that officers frequently face threats while performing their duties. “We get threats, subliminally and directly. I myself have been threatened,” he said. To ensure safety, officers operate in groups and coordinate with police when monitoring remote or high-risk areas.

He cited a particularly dangerous incident in the Cayo District, where a man attempted to run down officers with a tractor. Private security monitoring the property fired at the vehicle to stop it. “The driver pulled a firearm on our officers. He has been charged, and we hope the full extent of the law is applied,” Pinelo said.

Despite these risks, Pinelo said that his team remains committed to protecting Belize’s forests. “Verbal threats won’t stop us. We follow the law and carry out our duties professionally to safeguard national resources,” he said.