ZOKA FOREST IN ADJUMAN DISTRICT

By : Our Reporter

Authorities in Adjuman District have stepped up environmental restoration efforts through large-scale tree-planting initiatives targeting schools and public institutions as the district faces increasing environmental degradation.

District officials attribute the growing environmental challenges to population pressure resulting from the influx of refugees from South Sudan, rapid population growth, agricultural expansion, and rising demand for firewood and land for settlement.

Adjuman District currently hosts more than 233,000 refugees, a situation that has placed significant strain on forests, wetlands, and other natural resources as both host communities and refugees compete for land for farming, settlement, and energy needs.

Speaking during a tree-planting exercise on June16, 2026, at Elegu Primary School in Arinyapi Sub- County, the District Natural Resources Officer, Charles Giyaya, said the campaign is intended to encourage schools, institutions, and households to actively participate in restoring the district’s tree cover.

“This initiative seeks to empower schools and communities to take a leading role in environmental conservation through tree planting and sustainable management of natural resources,” Giyaya said.

He noted that extensive tree cutting for firewood, charcoal burning, construction materials, and agricultural expansion has significantly depleted vegetation cover across the district, raising concerns about the long-term environmental impact.

During the exercise, district leaders, pupils, development partners, and community members planted fruit trees and other indigenous species on a two-acre section of land at the school. The site is expected to serve as a demonstration woodlot for environmental education and conservation practices.

Adjuman District LC5 Chairperson John Anyanzo Ambayo called on residents to take personal responsibility for protecting the environment, warning that continued deforestation and wetland encroachment could have severe long-term consequences for livelihoods and ecosystem sustainability.

Resident District Commissioner Swaib Toko urged both host communities and refugees to work together in protecting the environment, emphasizing that tree planting not only supports ecological restoration but also creates economic opportunities for households.

Environmental activist and Team Leader of Friends of Zoka, Leslie William Amanzuru, cautioned that the continued destruction of natural forests poses a serious threat to biodiversity and ecological survival. He called for urgent action to safeguard the remaining forest reserves and promote sustainable natural resource management.

The tree-growing campaign is being implemented in partnership with development agencies and local stakeholders as part of wider efforts to restore degraded ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and promote sustainable land management across Adjuman District.