By Bida Elly David
Northern Bahr El Ghazal State governor, Tong Akeen Ngor, has warned citizens against cutting trees and urged them to plant more for environmental sustainability.
Ngor issued the warning yesterday during a tree-planting campaign aimed at enlightening people on the importance of trees and how they should fight deforestation to protect the environment.
“From today onwards, I am warning those who cut the trees to avoid random cutting. I encourage you people to plant trees in your houses to protect the environment and attract rainfall, and you must ensure to keep it clean and green,” he told the citizens.
In a statement from the office of the governor, he advised citizens, especially builders and charcoal burners, to cut down trees and plant more trees.
“Cutting more trees without planting more will spoil our environment and create climate change,” Governor Ngor echoed.
The governor, however, didn’t highlight the level of deforestation the state had encountered.
He directed all government officials to plant trees in their respective institutions and beef up those who practice too much deforestation.
Ngor appreciated the local chiefs, organized forces, government officials, women, youth, and all the citizens of the state for prioritizing the plantation of trees campaign.
Much of his applause went to the local authorities for advocating such campaigns to rescue the environment and people from uncertain natural hazards.
“Let me appreciate the Ministry of Agriculture for taking the initiative seriously and urge them to continue supporting the campaign in order to protect the environment and keep it safe.”
He also urged the county commissioners and town mayors to support such initiatives in their respective counties.
“Last year, the state government planned the plantation of 5,000 trees across Northern Bahr El Ghazal State to fight deforestation and climate change while keeping the environment clean and green, and this is its execution,” Ngor said.
He underscored that protecting the environment will have a positive impact on future generations.
“Planting more trees will create a sustainable eco-system, so let us protect it and keep it clean and green for future generations,” he noted.
In 2022, the Bishop of Wanyjok Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan in Northern Bahr El Ghazal expressed concerns over increasing levels of deforestation.
He said the situation in 2022 resulted in unusually windy and dusty weather being experienced for months. He echoed worries that cutting down trees and grass may lead to desertification in the state.