body-container-line-1
20.03.2016 Science

Sissala East environment is under threat - Tumu Kuoro

20.03.2016 LISTEN
By GNA

Tumu, Mar. 20, GNA - Kuoro Richard Babina Kanton Vl, the Paramount Chief of the Tumu Traditional Area, has said the sustainability of forest cover in the Sissala East District was under threat.

He said the environment in the District which was already depleted is now under serious threat from timber merchants and other individuals who are felling any tree on sight.

Kuoro Kanton, made this known at the annual 'Paari Gbielle' Festival celebrations of the chiefs and people of the Tumu Traditional Area.

He said traditional rulers and the people were questioning the motive behind the concession given to timber merchants to harvest trees in a region which was already a desert prone area.

The Tumu Kuoro issued a warning to the merchants, some of whom are of Chinese origin, to leave the trees alone, saying 'I am told they have made some payments to Forest Commission'.

'If that is true, then the Forestry Commission must also pay royalties to us, and also, introduce afforestation programmes in the area to make up for the destruction that have been visited on the forest cover', he said.

Since last year, some timber merchants have been operating in the Sissala East, Sissala West, Wa East, Wa West and Jirapa Districts harvesting roost trees with impunity.

GNA

body-container-line