NFA loses 67 hectares of trees to fires
THE National Forestry Authority (NFA) has lost over 67 hectares of pine and mahogany trees worth sh1.3b to fires set by communities near forest reserves in Gulu, Pader and Apac districts.
By Chris Ocowun
THE National Forestry Authority (NFA) has lost over 67 hectares of pine and mahogany trees worth sh1.3b to fires set by communities near forest reserves in Gulu, Pader and Apac districts.
Aldo Obedmoth, NFA’s regional range manager, said 65 hectares of three-year-old pine trees were burnt in Abera Central Forest Reserve in Gulu during this year’s dry season.
“The rate at which forest reserves are being burnt by members of the community is alarming. One hectare of pines was also burnt in Apac and half an hectare of mahogany in Kalongo, Pader district,†Obedmoth said.
He was speaking during the planting of 1,300 pine trees, together with Kenya Commercial Bank at Abera Central Forest Reserve recently. Obedmoth said one hectare of mature pine trees, if well-maintained, can generate between sh200m and 250m.
To reduce the fires, Obedmoth said, NFA is sensitising communities neighbouring forest reserves to plant more trees. “As a result, we are overwhelmed with the demand for seedlings by individuals. We need about 150,000 seedlings, but we have only managed to give out 25,000 seedlings under the Government programme,†he said.
The LC1 chairman of Oding village in Paicho sub-county, Kenneth Akulla, said many of the residents want to plant trees but they cannot afford to buy seedlings.
THE National Forestry Authority (NFA) has lost over 67 hectares of pine and mahogany trees worth sh1.3b to fires set by communities near forest reserves in Gulu, Pader and Apac districts.
Aldo Obedmoth, NFA’s regional range manager, said 65 hectares of three-year-old pine trees were burnt in Abera Central Forest Reserve in Gulu during this year’s dry season.
“The rate at which forest reserves are being burnt by members of the community is alarming. One hectare of pines was also burnt in Apac and half an hectare of mahogany in Kalongo, Pader district,†Obedmoth said.
He was speaking during the planting of 1,300 pine trees, together with Kenya Commercial Bank at Abera Central Forest Reserve recently. Obedmoth said one hectare of mature pine trees, if well-maintained, can generate between sh200m and 250m.
To reduce the fires, Obedmoth said, NFA is sensitising communities neighbouring forest reserves to plant more trees. “As a result, we are overwhelmed with the demand for seedlings by individuals. We need about 150,000 seedlings, but we have only managed to give out 25,000 seedlings under the Government programme,†he said.
The LC1 chairman of Oding village in Paicho sub-county, Kenneth Akulla, said many of the residents want to plant trees but they cannot afford to buy seedlings.