JUBA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Wednesday imposed restrictions on exports of charcoal, waste and scrap of ferrous cast iron in a bid to regulate depletion of natural resources and widen tax base, an official said.

Minister of Trade, Industry and East African Community Affairs, Moses Hassan Tiel, told journalists in Juba that these goods will only be exported under special warrants issued by his ministry as provided for in the Import and Export Act 2012.

"A lot of people are illegally engaged in cutting of trees in South Sudan for the purpose of producing charcoal for export to outside countries. We are trying to restrict that," Tiel said.

The official also prohibited imports of arms and ammunition, ivory, generally modified products, non-indigenous species of fish, narcotic drugs, and agricultural chemicals, among others.

The world's youngest nation has ineffective forestry policy and its authorities are worried of losing its natural forests to rampant rates of illegal logging.

According to UN Environment Program (UNEP), South Sudan's forests only covers 33 percent of its total land area and is shrinking by 1.5 percent annually due to logging and deforestation as the country lacks alternative source of fuels.

South Sudan is facing economic challenges, marked by a shortage of hard currency and shrunk oil production, after more than four years of civil war.