Wildfires have consumed over 600 hectares of teak plantations in Nzara County of Western Equatoria State this year alone, an official has said.
Speaking to the media Wednesday, Iyen William, the Managing Director of Equatoria Teak Company (ETC), which operates in Western Equatoria State, said they have lost over 600 hectares of teak plantations which is a great loss to the communities in the area.
“We have to do it again. Each tree will have to be replanted again. The government in this case is our principal partner. We are growing trees on government land and so the government has to take their responsibility according to our concession agreement to protect this gazetted area from looting, burning, and encroachment as per our agreement. The agreement started in 2006,” William said.
He appealed to the state government to set guidelines to control communities from setting fire unnecessarily to avoid loss of resources.
The deputy governor of Western Equatoria State, Dr. Kennedy Gaaniko, cautioned the people from lighting fires and leaving them unattended.
“Fire outbreak can happen so our role as the government will be that we have to talk to the communities, the chiefs and youths who are in the area to support the company of teak present in South Sudan, especially in Western Equatoria State, because I know that we the south Sudanese have resources which can help us more than crude oil. What I have seen here today can make us forget crude oil.” Dr. Gaaniko said.
The deputy governor appreciated ETC for creating employment opportunities in the state.
“As a government, we are going to stand and work together with Equatoria Teak Company in Western Equatoria State because we are aware of the challenges facing the company, we need to work together as a team to provide the service to the communities,” Dr. Gaaniko said.
ETC signed a concession agreement with the government of South Sudan in 2006 to manage teak forests for 32 years.
Since late last year, there have been several wildfire outbreaks in Western Equatoria State resulting in the loss of lives and property. Hunters have also been blamed for some of the fires.