Article 1: Trees

Trees getting axed... Illegally

        All puns aside Tanzania forest's are in a serious danger(for those of you. such as myself who are just awful at geography I have provided a map). Local logging gangs have started to emerge and in a similar fashion to poachers are killing off hundreds of tons of trees every month. They are going out at night armed to the teeth in an organized fashion and chopping down tree after tree. It is believed that over 70% of harvested wood in this country is unaccounted for. Officials say they are adding security, however locals say that a lot of the officials are being bribed.
  
        What does this mean for Tanzania? Well the government is losing money, due to a lack of taxation and fees being applied to the smuggled goods. People are losing their homes and potential job opportunists. Finally many species are on the brink of local extinction. So how does this sort of thing come into play? Well according Africans country's controller and auditor its "the result of poor planning and the governments inability to manage its forestry resources." However, as far as I am concerned it a simple supply and demand equation. These smugglers would not be present in the first place if the illegal chopping didn't have value. Its a shame that at times we are willing to destroy not only our environment but entire governments for short term profits. So I leave you with this question who should be held responsible?

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