Source: The National

ALL special agricultural business leases (SABL) granted prior to the issuance of an environmental permit are illegal, Minister for Environment and Conservation John Pundari said yesterday.

The minister would not approve any more environmental permits on SABLs until the Commission of Inquiry into the issue is made public and cabinet has determined an appropriate course of action.

Section 46 of the Environment Act 2000 prevented other government agencies from issuing permits or licences for level two or level three activities until an environmental permit was granted.

This is standard practice in the mining, petroleum, gas and forestry industries but has not been recognised as a requirement by the Lands and Physical Planning Department.

“Any holder of an SABL who does not hold an environment permit is operating unlawfully,” Pundari said in a statement.

“I have directed my department to work closely with the Lands Department to indentify the SABL holders who have not obtained an environment permit and to initiate appropriate action against these parties.

“I am particularly concerned with lease holders whose sole economic aim appears to be making a profit from clear-felling and selling timber.

“The purpose of an SABL is the development of agriculture, not the selling of timber and, unless the lease holder demonstrates a serious commitment to agriculture development, I will not support the issuance of an environment permit.

“Our people will gain significant economic opportunity through long-term sustainable and environmentally-friendly agriculture developments but not from the rape and pillage of our forests which is occurring at this time through many of these SABLs.”

The minister raised his concern about felling trees through SABLs which was resulting in significant loss of forest cover.

This also resulted in increased carbon in the air and large tracts of barren and degraded land.