South Sudan’s Growing Problem of Deforestation and Environmental Degradation

BY Philip Ayuen Dot, Nairobi, Kenya

Tuesday, June 09, 2020 (PW) — Forests cover about 30% of the earth’s surface but are rapidly disappearing at an alarming rate due to activities such as logging. According to World Bank, between 1990 and 2016 the world lost 1.3 million square kilometers, an area larger than South Africa.

And as the journal of nature reported in 2015, the world has lost 46% of its trees since humans started cutting down trees. This devastating loss has been attributed to clearing of forest to pave way for agriculture, the burning of charcoal and the use of firewood as a cooking fuel. 

The loss of forests is particularly alarming because forests are one of the best ways to fight climate change. Due to excess carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, the world has been experiencing global warming. This comes as a result of the emitted carbon dioxide having a greenhouse effect in the atmosphere where it acts as a blanket and traps gases.

This has had disastrous results on earth’s climate that has changed for the worst leading to increased flooding, rise in sea level, unpredictable rainfall seasons, duration and intensity, and increased frequency of droughts. 

Forests are an important arsenal in the fight against climate change as they help absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide for a long time. Besides abating climate change, forests also act as wildlife habitats and are home to a lot of species that are endangered or almost extinct. 

Forests also act as drainage systems for water catchment areas by preventing flooding. They do this by absorbing water when it rains and realizing it slowly over months into streams and rivers, while also replenishing underground water systems. Forests are also a source of medicinal plants that aid in treating some ailments. 

It is thus unfortunate that South Sudan has had rampant deforestation taking place despite the danger that poses to the environment. So far, the country’s forests that cover an estimated 191,667 square km, have been shrinking at a rate of 2% per year, as reported by the ministry of environment in 2018. This is made possible by the fact that 99% of the population depends on forest as their main source of energy that is charcoal, firewood and timber for construction and furniture. 

Deforestation has been made worse by the conflict. This is because the displacement of people from their homes and farms, has left them with no source of income or food, making many turn to charcoal burning to earn a living. Illegal trading of forest products has also been on the rise, as the conflict makes it difficult for law enforcers to crack on organized criminals.

This is as charcoal from the country is sold to within state to state and probably to neighboring countries.  Demand for agricultural land has also seen the clearing of forests. Another factor contributing to deforestation in the country is uncontrolled extraction of timber and pressure from population movement and growth. 

Another major reason for the rapid decline of the South Sudan’s forest resources has been commercial logging by foreign firms. This is being done in an unsustainable manner and if the trend continues, environmentalists predict that South Sudan’s teak forests that sprawl the country could soon become extinct.

In the 1940s, British planted hundreds of thousands of acres of teak, making South Sudan have some of the largest stands of valuable hardwood trees in Africa. However the harvesting of these forests has been going on haphazardly as the country doesn’t get adequate compensation of it, and neither do most of these companies replant the trees after felling thousands of them. 

This situation has resulted in adverse environmental effects such as soil erosion in areas where forests were cut down. This has led to flooding and flash floods especially, because the trees that would have helped absorb the water for a while or reduce its speed have been felled.

Deforestation has also destroyed the habitat for wild animals putting the existing animals at risk of having their population decline while some become extinct. Furthermore this exposes the country to the effects of climate change as South Sudan is ranked among the world’s five most vulnerable countries and is experiencing some of the most acute temperature changes. 

The good news is that the government of South Sudan in conjunction with its partners has been trying to rehabilitate its forests. Some states such as Jonglei has launches sale over 25,000 tree seedling according to Hon. Deng Aguer, former speaker of the State Assembly August 21, 2015 (BORTOWN) the initiative which was started back by the former ministry of Agriculture and forestry Hon. Mayen Ngor Atem 14 September 2012 the exercise was to embarked on a tree planting to avert deforestation.

The State have taken matters into their own hands and have embarked in massive tree planting exercises in a bid to control deforestation thou the State need more to be done in regarding with the forest. They are planting drought resistant trees mostly that can cope with the local climate thus enhancingthe rate of survival of the planted trees. 

The national government has also not been left behind and has set ambitious targets in a bid to raise the nation’s forest cover. In 2018, led by the ministry of environment and forestry, the nation set out to plant 20 million trees in ten years in a bid to mitigate negative impacts of climate change. Furthermore the government was seeking to enact laws to crack down on illegal timber trade and charcoal export. 

Although those efforts are commendable, they are still not enough to curb deforestation and restore the country’s forests. More needs to be done by the current government. And for deforestation to be reduced or done in a sustainable manner, the citizens need to be involved.

This starts by sensitizing them on the effects of deforestation, alongside providing them with alternative sources of energy and ways of earning an income. The citizens will also play a crucial role when it comes to reforestation as they provide many hands to plant thousands of trees compared to if the ministry decided to do it using its staff only. 

Another way to ensure the sustainable management of South Sudan’s forest is by having strong laws that ensure the conservation and protection of forests. The country also needs a well-funded and equipped ministry of environment and forestry that can implement those laws. This would ensure that the foreign firms given the concessions to fell trees, do it in a sustainable manner. 

Though deforestation is a serious problem with devastating results, it can be dealt with if the nation commits to it. 

The author graduated from Kenyatta University, Kenya, with BSc of Environmental Science, and can be reached via his email: philipdot57@gmail.com

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