Forest Department Sets Deadline for Logging Season

The Belize Forest Department has announced that the 2025–2026 logging season will officially close on July 15, 2026. From that date, all felling, harvesting, hauling, and transportation of logs and timber products under current permits and licenses must stop.

In preparation for the closure, the Forest Department is reminding operators that any approved movement of logs before July 15 must meet strict requirements. These include a valid waybill, logs clearly marked with the registered property brand and Forest Department hammer stamp on both ends, and a valid ‘Permission to Haul’ issued for each load.

Authorities say all requests for permission to haul must be submitted through the respective Forest Department range offices and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Approval is not automatic, and inspectors may carry out field checks to confirm compliance with licensing conditions, royalty payments, and other requirements.

The department is also warning that no new petty permits for private or leased lands will be issued after July 15, “and the transportation of forest products harvested under these permits will be strictly prohibited past this date”.