The Agriculture and Forestry Minister in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, Mrs. Lilian Rizik, has confirmed that the council of ministers has mandated her ministry to protect wooded areas from deforestation.

Rizik stated in an interview with Radio Tamazuj that legislation and procedures have been put in place to govern the public’s use of state forests.

Assuring citizens of the jurisdiction of her ministry in this area, the minister noted that some people fell trees in one county using a permit obtained for another county. On this issue along with felling trees for charcoal production and other uses, the public should refer queries to their local civil administration.

Madam Rizik also stressed to the citizens of Western Bahr el-Ghazal that mahogany and teak trees should not be cut down without prior permission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.