Jul 09, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. The Sierra Leone government announced it had lifted a ban on unprocessed timber exports put in place in January to crack down on illegal logging, AFP reported. "The ban is lifted with immediate effect on the exploitation, transportation and processing of timber to satisfy the domestic market," it said in a statement. However a ban on exporting sawn timber would remain in place. "Measures have been taken to address the current high level of environmental degradation resulting from the uncontrolled illegal harvesting and exploitation of timber currently taking place," it said. The European Union meanwhile voted Wednesday to outlaw illegal timber or products made from such wood, which makes up around one-fifth of all timber imports into the European Union, and to punish unscrupulous dealers. Much of the illegally harvested wood comes from forested African countries. According to the United Nations, roughly 38% of Sierra Leone was forested in 2005. The country lost roughly 10% of its forest cover since 1990, although deforestation rates rose following the end of civil conflict in 2001.