By : Brenda Acen

Residents of Atyak Sub County in Ora County, Zombo district who have settled within demarcated forest reserve areas have been directed to vacate the land to pave the way for active management and protection of the forests by the government through the National Forestry Authority (NFA).

The directive follows a community engagement between local authorities, the NFA and residents aimed at addressing increasing human activities inside the reserve, including cultivation and the construction of permanent and semi-permanent structures.

Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Festus Ayikobua said the land is legally under the management of the NFA and warned residents against treating the forest reserve as permanent settlement land.

Ayikobua said the enforcement is part of a nationwide government effort to protect forest reserves from encroachment and restore degraded forests.

He, however, said residents currently cultivating crops inside the reserve would be allowed to access their gardens during the harvesting period, but stressed that permanent settlement within the reserve would not be tolerated.

The authorities say continued settlement and agricultural activities inside forest reserves threaten forest cover and could undermine efforts to conserve natural resources and protect the environment.

Residents have consequently been urged to comply with the directive and avoid expanding their gardens or putting up new structures within the demarcated reserve areas.

The authorities are also expected to continue engaging affected communities to ensure that the eviction and management of the reserve are handled in a manner that promotes environmental conservation while addressing concerns of the people who have been occupying or using the land.

Some of the people reportedly occupying the reserve are said to have come from neighbouring communities, including areas linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Madi communities.

The government, through the NFA and local authorities, is expected to intensify monitoring of the reserve to prevent further encroachment and protect the remaining forest cover.

Zombo District is home to several forests and forest reserves, including Lendu in Zeu Sub-county, Okavu-Reru and Awang in the Kango area, Usi in Warr Sub-county, Nyagak in the Nyapea–Jangokoro area, as well as Nyapea and Kango forest reserves.