The Minister of Environment is urging people not to construct houses on wetlands in South Sudan.

Alfred Lado Gore told journalists on Saturday upon his arrival from Congo Brazzaville that people should not destroy wetlands by erecting buildings in those areas:

“Environment is life. If we don’t protect it, then time will come when we will also not be able to live on this planet,” said Mr. Gore.

He urged the general public, particularly developers to consult with the Ministry of Environment, so that “we can send people to go and access whether they should go ahead with construction or not.”

Mister Gore also warned people against cutting trees in order to avoid desertification.

Honorable Lado Gore had visited Congo Brazzaville where he attended a High level Regional consultation meeting to assess Environmental Issues in IDP and Refugee camps in the Great Lakes Region.

Wetlands play an essential part in the regulation of river flow, they filter pollutants and fertilizers, they are spawning zones for some species of fish (pike in particular). They also provide a habitat for plants, insects, batrachians and birds.