By: HarunaKuyateh
Lower Nuimi District Tribunal in collaboration with Regional Forestry Office in Kerewan, on Thursday, last week presided over two cases of entering and felling down mahogany trees at Buniadou and Bakindick Community Forests without any authorisation. The four accused were found guilty and fined by the tribunal.
Chief George Sonko who doubled as President of the Tribunal cautioned forest committees to be transparent and safeguard community forests.
He said protection and preservation of forest cover remain a concern for the tribunal and as a result has zero tolerance for illegal activities.
Chief Sonko lauded the efforts of the Forestry Office in Kerewan for their steadfastness and for working with the district tribunal for enforcement of the forest act.
He used the moment to call people to desist from illegal logging and follow the due process of acquiring documents before cutting down trees.
The Lower Nuimi District Tribunal, therefore, ruled on the two different illegal tree felling cases, Badou Gaye of Pakau Njogou and Kebba Nfansu Jammeh of Bakindick, and fine each D20,000 for illegal logging of two mahogany at Buniadou.
The second case took place in Bakindik Community Forest and this case included Ebrima Sowe of Kerr Tubay (Operator) and GibbiTambedou of Busumbala (the winch Driver).
All of them pleaded guilty and each of them is fined D30,000, and the Court ordered the forest officers to impound the chainsaw and sole type with the amounts of trees cut is 3 mahogany
Alasan Badgie from Juffureh Forestry Office described the ruling of the tribunal as important in protecting the forest. He assured of forestry support to the implementation of the forest act and called on the forest users to jealously guide the forest cover.
Commenting on community forest committees, Badgie disclosed that the purpose of Community Forest concepts aimed at empowering communities to take lead in the management and protection of forest cover.
