Mozambique loses about 267,000 hectares of forest annually, representing 0.79% of its total forested area, resulting in the emission of 40 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, according to Minister of Land and Environment Ivete Maibaze. The primary cause, accounting for 86% of deforestation, is slash-and-burn agriculture, while tree cutting for firewood and charcoal contributes 13%. Efforts to curb illegal logging have seen 8,902 inspections since 2020, leading to 4,970 fines totaling $8.9 million, of which $4.9 million has been paid. Authorities also seized 31,896 cubic meters of illicitly logged wood and recovered 69 out of 76 containers of illegal timber destined for China. Recent efforts foiled another attempt to export 12 containers of illegal timber.