Indiscriminate cutting of trees, burning charcoal worries Mushindamo DC

By NATION REPORTER MUSHINDAMO district commissioner Benson Ngambo says he is concerned with the rate at which trees are being cut down for the making of charcoal.

Mr Ngambo told the Daily Nation in an interview that deforestation is largely being caused by the unsustainable charcoal production methods being used in the district.

He said government has been campaigning for the preservation of natural resources especially trees as a way of containing climate change and preventing disasters such as floods.

He said though 80 percent of the households in the district depend on charcoal and fuel wood, the is need to find a more sustainable way of burning charcoal.

‘’The large quantities of charcoal found along the road side is very very worrying and as district district administration we will not sit idle and watch the environment get destroyed,’’ Mr Ngambo said.

He said there is urgent need to promote sustainable charcoal production to curb deforestation in the area.

He appealed to the forestry department to intensify cleanup operations in order to get rid of the illegal and indiscriminate cutting of tress.

He also urged all stakeholders in the district to take an active role on issues concerning forestation and reduce the effects of climate change on the environment.