Guinea: temporary cessation of wood cutting, a salutary gesture but still insufficient in the face of the ecological emergency

The Guinean Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development announced, in a press release dated July 1, 2025, the decision wood cutting and transport activities throughout the national territory for the period from July 7 to September 30, 2025. A decision taken within the framework of biological rest, aimed at preserving forest resources seriously threatened by intense and often uncontrolled exploitation.

A necessary measure in the face of forest cover erosion

Guinea, nicknamed “the water tower of West Africa”, has lost nearly 30% of its forest cover in 30 years, according to data from Global Forest Watch. In 2022, more than 13,600 hectares of primary forests were destroyed, with a marked increase in areas such as Lower Guinea and Forest Guinea, where precious species such as mahogany, niangon or teak are particularly coveted.

The pressure is intensifying, in particular because of the industrial and artisanal exploitation of timber, the production of charcoal (source of energy for more than 80% of Guinean households), and the anarchic expansion of agricultural areas.

Wood flows that are difficult to control

Despite the existence of a legislative framework, notably the Law L/2017/060/AN and thedecree of 2016 governing logging, application remains uneven. Many clandestine logging zones escape any official control.

Data is lacking on the exact volume of legally exported wood. However, some reports estimate that more than 60% of wood felled in Guinea is not declared, which causes the State to lose significant revenue while increasing environmental degradation.

A biological rest… but with limited effects

The MEDD measure is part of a laudable ecological logic, but its temporality (less than 3 months) and his essentially theoretical application strongly limit its impact. Indeed, the human and logistical resources of the Environmental Gendarmerie remain largely insufficient to cover the entire country. Sanctions provided for by law are rarely applied. Some players in the timber sector find ways to get around it, in particular by anticipating cuts or obtaining unofficial exemptions.

If the announced break can contribute to temporarily curb forest hemorrhage, it will not be enough to reverse the trend without structural reforms, including: digitalization of forest monitoring (geolocation, drones, open databases), the strengthening of wood traceability mechanisms, the increased involvement of local communities in the participatory forest management, and above all, a strong political commitment to enforce existing laws.

The cessation of logging decreed by the ministry is a positive signal. But beyond the symbol, sustainable protection of Guinean forests requires a paradigm shift, combining effective monitoring, environmental education, sustainable energy alternatives and citizen involvement.

Guinea's forest heritage is a wealth for future generations. Preserving it should not be a temporary measure, but a permanent commitment.

Alpha Oumar Bagou Barry