Kotido district natural resources department has raised concerns over the massive destruction of the environment, specifically cutting down of trees for charcoal production.

In a report presented during the district budget conference by Harriet Draleru -the Natural resources officer, it was established that Chamkok in Kotido Sub County and Nakwanamoru in Kamoru Sub County were the hot spots for the felling of trees for charcoal burning.

Draleru during her presentation however indicated that to scale down the trend in the hot spot areas, the department plans to conduct an enforcement exercise.

She adds that, the department also plans to lobby for and plant 50,000 seedlings for tree planting days to increase the vegetation cover in the district.

The department is also planning to mobilize all civil servants, councilors and the general public to embrace tree planting as well as sensitize and provide technical support to the lower local governments and communities on tree planting and afforestation.

Cue//…Draleru on seedling

On the other hand, Draleru raised concerns over the escalating cases of communities bordering institutions encroaching on institutional land.

In other planned activities for 2024/2025 financial year, Draleru says her department also plans for the Area Land committee to carry out inspections and demarcation of institutional lands as well as carrying out physical planning on development site.

Cue//…Draleru on Encroachment

In response, Emmanuel Lodio, Kotido district speaker who chaired the budget conference session suggested for immediate creation and empowering of sub county land committees.

Cue//…Lodio on creation of land committees