Illegal Charcoal burning poses threat to West Nile Tree cover,

By Pajobo Idarus

Arua

Owing to the deforestation rates in west Nile sub region with 28.6% of the tree coverage being lost to Charcoal burning, leaders have put efforts to restore the forestry coverage to conserve the environment in the Area.

In Yumbe District, the senior Environment officer Mr. Andama Swaib Solo talks to us on how the district is trying to preserve the tree coverage. “We tend to go out to do enforcements and find out that the communities have destroyed these trees illegally without any clearance from the sub counties. This year alone, we have impounded over 15 Lorries which have carried illegal forest products like charcoal and the council has levied a fee of 500,000shs on vehicles which carry illegal forestry products.” Said Mr. Andama. 

The acting Arua District Forestry Officer Ms. Ayeru Lilian with her team still deem on the hopes of the 2017 proposed ban on charcoal which is yet a ‘myth’. “Arua had put an effort in 2017 to set a ban on charcoal trade, this was to reduce the rate of tree cutting in the district, since then we have been waiting for the implementation and it has not taken place, but this has not stopped us from doing any activities of tree planting or our daily routine of patrolling in order to reduce commercial charcoal trade.” Lilian said. 

In Terego District, the urban demand, refugee and host communities put pressure on the trees for fire wood and charcoal as source of energy for cooking. Mr. Robert Asiku the senior forestry officer speaks out. “In our communities both Refugees and host communities, over 99% derive energy source from trees and equally the urban demand for charcoal as an income generating activity putting pressure on the trees. You find that the pressure on the biomass is generally high for the reasons of energy need.” Asiku elaborates.
  
According to the national forestry and tree planting act 2003, “No person shall in a forest reserve , cut, disturb, damage burn or destroy any forest produce or remove or receive any forest product except in accordance with regulatory or guidelines made for the proper management of the forest reserve.”

COVER PHOTO: A teak tree forest in Ediofe Arua City By Pajobo Idarus