The chief of Jokadu, Alhaji Jim Fatma Jobe, has urged the people of his area to be vigilant in curbing all bush fires and contribute in the protection and conservation of natural resources and soil cover.

The Jokadou chief made this remarks recently during an interview with the Daily Observer’s correspondent in the North Bank Region. He noted that the destruction of the forest almost every year by unknown individuals create havoc for animals and livestock heads as they travel long distance in search of food. He challenged all the village heads (Alkalolu) and the communities to continue to guard the forest against bush fires and to build strong partnership with cluster villages to put off any fire outbreak within their vicinity. Chief Jimfatma Jobe used the opportunity to call on people to carry out strong fire belts around the perimeters of their compounds, orchards, vegetable gardens and communities to protect their vicinities from bushfires. The chief also thanked the people for responding to the president’s back-to-the-land call, geared towards the attainment of food self-sufficiency.

The regional forestry officer for North Bank Region, Alhagie Bundu Leigh, echoed similar sentiments and called on the district authorities in the region to ensure that communities carry out fire belt around the village. He said his office would take legal action against anybody found guilty of setting up fire in the forest. “The frequent burning of the forest contributed to the lost of soil fertility and aggravated lost natural habitats and by extension resulted to low rainfall,” he remarked. “According to the Forest Act of 1998,” he continued “anybody found guilty of setting up bushfire would be fined an amount of D3000 in default to serve 6 months imprisonment”. He therefore called on all district authorities to enforce the law to help protect the forest and the environment.