The Department of Forestry’s Upper River Region office has convened its quarterly staff meeting with a clear directive of redoubling efforts to clamp down on illegal forest activities across the region.
Held at the Regional Forestry Office in Basse Mansa Jang Kunda, the meeting brought together officers from the four administrative circles of URR to take stock of achievements, confront operational challenges, and align strategies ahead of the year’s final quarter.
Opening the session, Regional Forestry Officer Mr Ousman Sonko thanked the Director of the Department of Forestry for providing the enabling environment for the meeting.
He stressed that effective forest management depends on disciplined coordination at the regional level and on staff being equipped to act decisively in the field.
Mr Sonko and his team presented a record of progress in three priority areas:
1. Mitigation of charcoal production – Increased patrols and community engagement have reduced unlicensed charcoal burning in key forest zones.
2. Crackdown on illegal timber activities – Surveillance and enforcement operations led to the interception of timber moved without permits, sending a clear signal to offenders.
3. Reduction in bushfire occurrences – Early sensitization campaigns and firebreak maintenance contributed to fewer reported fire incidents compared to the same period last year.
Staff representatives from each of the four administrative circles followed with their own reports.
They detailed “massive achievements” at the local level, including community-led fire prevention, arrests of offenders, and collaboration with village committees to monitor forest reserves.
They also flagged a few operational challenges, which management committed to addressing before the end of the year.
The specific constraints were not disclosed publicly, but officials indicated that logistics, transport, and community compliance remain areas needing targeted intervention.
The quarterly review closed with a renewed push for enforcement. Mr Sonko urged staff to intensify patrols, strengthen ties with local authorities, and ensure that forest regulations are applied uniformly across URR.
The message was blunt: illegal activities will face increased scrutiny, and the department will not relent in protecting the region’s forest cover.
