The Solomon Islands government says it will not issue new felling licences to newly registered foreign logging companies.
Photo: supplied
It said it was taking the step to control the influx of foreign logging companies and to control illegal entry into unlicensed forest concessions.
In a statement, the government said it also wanted to ensure resource owners got the maximum benefit from their forest resources.
It said this new control measure will also help officials account for all logs felled, extracted and shipped offshore.
The government said it was critical that the remaining forests were sustainably harvested by genuine and well behaved logging companies, while resource owners had a chance to gain the maximum benefits.
Other measures include criteria setting a minimum standard of compliance for logging companies.