FDA Boss Urges Citizens to Keep Eyes on Protected Forest
The Managing Director (MD) of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Rudolph J. Merab has urged residents of Ziggida, Kpayaquelleh and all surrounding towns and villages in Lofa County to keep eyes on the Wonegizi protected area and the Gbalin forest for future use that will benefit the communities. Director Merab made the appealed last week during his visitation at the communities hosting FDA protected areas. The Managing Director delegation that toured the various communities last week includes the Technical Manager for Community, Weedor H. Gray, Manager for Ecotourism, Comfort T. Sakui, Edward Appleton, Law Enforcement Manager and Technical Manager for Commercial, Albert Blanyon. “We have come to see you people because that you people get the forest, we have not come to the forest but we have come to you. We are trying to safe this place for investors and my job is to work with you the community people. We have come for you to tell us what is in your heart and not what we want hear”, Director Merab told citizens in Konia during a town hall meeting. The MD furthered cautioned citizens to help keep the forest they have given to FDA protected for the betterment of their unborn children. At the Konia town hall meeting which was attended by representatives from 6 towns out of the 17 towns that hosting the Wonegizi forest, Director Merab asked residents of those communities to tell the FDA what they want that could benefit them. He assured them that the current management of FDA is closely working with partners in addressing some of the community essential needs. “You come first and the forest is second. We want for the forest to be used to change your life”. At the Kpayaquelleh town hall meeting, the FDA boss also admonished citizens to preserve the forest for the betterment of the communities. He said although the logging company that was operating in the forest has left, the government through FDA is under obligation to bring another company to take over the forest. He asserted that company will only come if the forest is protected by the community people. According to Director Merab, pit sawing and farming activities at the concession areas will deplete the forest and therefore, community dwellers should keep eyes on it.
During the meeting, citizens and the FDA delegation exchange views on how best to preserve the forest for investor. The MD told former workers of Alfa that the government through FDA is working out modality how to settle them with their remaining unpaid months. Forkpa Vewu, General town chief and James Tarnue, landlord respectively applauded FDA for the education on the importance of the forest. Landlord Tarnue asked FDA and her partners to recondition the road and empower citizens in order to stop them from destroying the forest. Tarnue emphasized that if nothing is done to better the individual life of citizens who owned the forest, the forest will not be protected because they have to live through farming. Landlord Tarnue who hailed from Ziggida informed Director Merab that the major request of the community is the bridge construction and rehabilitation of the road. At the same time, the youth Chair of Dorzemilor town, Lavela Gayflor appealed to FDA management to establish vocational school for the young people so as to better their lives. He claimed that the young people played cardinal role in the preservation of the forest.
At the Kpayaquelleh town hall meeting, the Clan chief of Gbalin Clan, Madam Lorpu M. Gbaba thanked Director Merab for reaching out to them. She said citizens of Gbalin Clan are willing to preserve the concession area but need FDA support. According to her, the concession area is been evaded by farmers especially from Bong County. She indicated that residents of the Gbalin Clan know the importance of forest and will do everything possible to keep it protected. John Vava of the Community Land Development Management Committee (CLDMC) also assured Director Merab of their commitment in working with FDA. The Konia town hall meeting brought together youth, chiefs and elders of the township and representatives from Fauna Flora (F&F). The delegation ended the toured with an inspection at the Alfa logs site.
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