W. Bahr el Ghazal ramps up measures against illegal woodcutting

December 10, 2014 (WAU) – Authorities in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state has announced it is stepping up measures against illegal woodcutting.

The announcement was made on Wednesday officially made during the reopening of a timber mill.

The factory was originally established in 1964, but later closed in 1986.

In similar speeches delivered at the reopening of the factory, both state deputy governor Zackaria Joseph Garang and the minister for agriculture, fisheries, animals resources and forestry, Dr Adel Antinasio Suru, warned citizens against the sale and purchase of illegally sourced timber.

Garang said it’s hoped the measures would help curb rampant illegal woodcutting and provide some protection to teak and mahogany trees.

He described the state’s timber resources as one of the government’s valuable commodities, calling on South Sudan to further develop its forestry industry.

The minister has called for a tree planting campaign to be launched to help protect the environment from desertification.

He also urged to local chiefs to enforce the ban and help bring illegal woodcutters to book.

Those wishing to obtain logging licenses will need to apply and pay a fee through the department of forestry, said Suru.

The directorate of the state forestry department has also pledged to deploy a team of plantation monitors at village level to protect all agro-forests.

Monitors are also likely to be tasked with protecting teaks and other timber plantations from being destroyed by fire.

Suru said in addition to forestry, Suru said the state is also moving to develop the dairy industry and fish production.

(ST)