By James Innocent
Concerned citizens and community leaders in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, have urged the government, citizens, and partners to take immediate action to address alarming deforestation.
James Wani, the Director for Peacebuilding in Central Equatoria State, expressed his concerns during a meeting with the Yei River County Peacebuilding Committee at the county secretariat.
Wani stated that during his travels along the Yei-Juba Road, he observed many people cutting down trees without replanting, which he believes will lead to natural disasters in the near future due to the lack of trees to protect the climate.
“If citizens continue to practice deforestation all over South Sudan, the future of the younger generation will be affected by natural disasters,” Wani warned.
Silash Moses, a citizen working for Finn Church Aid in Yei, acknowledged that many people are cutting down trees due to a lack of employment opportunities and income, leading them to resort to charcoal production and wood sales to earn a living.
“Many people are cutting down trees just to get money, and most of them lack awareness about the dangers of cutting down trees,” Moses said. “If the government, partners, and citizens work together to plant more trees, it will have a positive impact on the environment.”
The youth leader of Yei River County, Johnson Poru Hillary, also pointed out that deforestation has become a widespread practice in the community due to the current economic hardship, as people resort to cutting down trees as a means of survival.