Mbanza Kongo - The Forestry Development Institute (IDF) in northern Zaire province denounced on Friday that citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are systematically invading the flora to explore considerable quantities of wood and charcoal.
The complaint was made by the head of the IDF Provincial Department in the region, Ovídio Dala during an interview to ANGOP, underlining that the exploration of forest resources generally takes place in the municipalities bordering Zaire province with the DRC.
The official expressed concern about the situation, at a time when the IDF in Zaire is struggling with a shortage of environmental inspectors (it has only 11) for close monitoring of flora and fauna.
This situation, Dala said, extends to poaching, where citizens of this neighboring country indiscriminately slaughter considerable quantities of animal species, many of which are endangered.
"For 10 years, the IDF in Zaire province has not issued licenses for commercial hunting, to allow species to reproduce. Unfortunately, we are surprised by individuals from the neighboring country who, at all costs, enter the national territory and make their own," he said.
To counter this situation, he called for the IDF and the forces of internal defense and order to join forces, especially in the municipalities that share a border with the DRC, namely Mbanza Kongo, Soyo, Cuimba and Nóqui.
Vandalizing a forest nursery
A forest nursery set up on an area of two hectares in Mbanza Kongo municipality, was vandalized by unknown elements.
According to the head of the IDF in the region, the nursery was preserving various species of trees, especially red acacias, which would be used to plant trees in the province's towns and villages.
He said that the IDF was making contact with the traditional authorities to provide another space for the revitalization of this project.
DA/JL/MRA/AMP
