A vehicle loaded with charcoal on Mundri-Juba road on 4th Feb 2024 Photo Credit: Charles Wote/Eye Radio

The Commissioners of Mundri East and West counties of Western Equatoria State have raised concerns over the random cutting of trees in the areas.

Mundri East County Commissioner Margret Fozia thinks the cutting of trees is being done for economic activities.

She called on the national government to intervene, citing the dangers of environmental degradation and climate change.

“There is a lot of random cutting of trees for use of charcoal and timber on the road. Our community should be extremely careful because most of this thing is done for economic activity” said Fozia on Tuesday.

“The trees are cut for charcoal uses so that they can sell, the trees are cut for polls so that sell to better their life,” she said.

“If you look at the current world there are issues of environmental and climatic change so the awareness is not enough and our national government to look at some Individuals in our communities and counties”.

Mundri West Commissioner Zelipha Dawa says her administration is also struggling with the random cutting of trees in the area.

She said the security apparatus has been working hard to address the issue, but the forest is too huge to arrest the situation.

Zelipha added her leadership will come up with rules and regulations to combat the illicit activities.

“In my county, we are struggling with my security apparatus to stop these things but you know the bush is very huge and we cannot enter in all the bushes,” said Zelipha.

“Sometimes, I send my security apparatus to collect all the machines because the illegal loggers have no authorization letter from either the State or National governments, my security apparatus collects the machines and arrests them,” she said.

“We have been doing that but we have huge bushes so when we arrest from this side, the other places are left and attended to, so, we are very tired. As a government, we are going to discuss that and come up with rules and regulations.”