By Ruth Yeabu Sesay
The latest action by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry Of Internal Affairs to lift the temporary suspension on logging and transporting of timber products has drawn mixed reactions from various sectors.
A timber dealer, Musa Conteh told Politico that he gets his timber from Kono and believes he would no longer have endure what he saw as endless wait with all its pitfalls including attempts of being cheated or exploited. He said he and other timber traders now have the freedom to do their business, unhindered.
A concerned citizen, Bonkie Leigh, applauded the government for the decision but recommended that the government put laws that will ensure that as they cut trees more are planted to replace the ones lost.
Leigh said that: “considering the reports of climate change in Nigeria and other countries we ought to be very careful because are also ranked as one of the countries that climate change will affect greatly if proper care is not taken to address the issue of deforeststion. He said the government should work together with environmental agencies to protect the environment from harm.
A resident of Falaba, Saio said Falaba is one of the key districts where logging is most rampant, and pleaded that more trees be planted as they are felled. ‘’The district is slowly losing its green scenery because the loggers do not plant more trees after they finish cutting down others’’, he said.
The decision to lift the suspension was made known to the public through a press release dated 2nd November 2022.
The suspension which started on 10th June and ended on 31st October 2022 was imposed because of the rainy season and the safety of the timber dealers, according to the release.
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