16 Oct 2017

Logging without consent underway on Solomons' Nende

10:18 am on 16 October 2017

A landowner group in Temotu province of Solomon islands says logging is underway on their land without consent.

Earth moving underway by logging company in Solomon Islands' Temotu province.

Earth moving underway by logging company in Solomon Islands' Temotu province. Photo: Dudley Mali

According to locals on Temotu's largest island Nende there are three logging camps in operation there without the required permits.

The logging company, Malaysia-based Xiang Lin, earlier claimed to have permission from a former Temotu Provincial executive to operate on Nende.

However, no environmental impact assessments were reported to have been submitted, nor any timber rights hearings completed.

Dudley Mali of the Nende Resource Development Association said landowners were not happy that early logging activity has begun without their consent.

"The Temotu Provincial executive has rejected the timber rights, so we see it as illegal logging by that company. Now we are filing restraining orders on some of the blocks."