The Cote of Ivoire government has taken a long overdue step to check heedless deforestation. In mid-September, the Forest Protection Council instituted a ban on the export of all unprocessed wood. "The export of tim- ber, even semi-processed will not be allowed", declared a government statement.

The government welcome as 300,000 tonnes Of raw timber used to be shipped abroad annually, representing between 75 and 80 per cent of all timber in mom y The aim is also noore that at least 20 per ofour national forests oding national parks in untouched." The government directive IF signals hope for the copioited forest resources of the West African country.