About 27% of São Tomé and Príncipe is covered with primary, though inaccessible, forest. Wood is used on the plantations for fuel to dry cocoa beans and elsewhere as a building material. Unrestricted cutting has been the rule in spite of the legal sanctions against it. In 1993, new forest regulations were issued and guards were trained to enforce them. Reforestation and scientific foresting have been enforced to avoid further loss. Roundwood removals were estimated at 9,000 cu m (317,700 cu ft) in 2000.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: