SOUTH SUDAN: South Sudanese Prelate Cautions Illegal Deforestation in the Country, Calls for Government’s intervention
Bishop Hiiboro Eduardo
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Bishop of the Catholic Dioceses of Tombura-Yambio has warned the people of South Sudan to stop illegal cutting down of indigenous trees as the society is working towards combating climate change which is affecting not only the youngest nation of South Sudan but the entire world.
Sharing his concern in a statement shared with AMECEA Online Wednesday, March 15, Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala lamented, “I have noticed with a heavy heart that some people are cutting down big indigenous trees illegally in and around Yambio town.”
“These trees have been with us for more than 200 years, and they are irreplaceable,” the Bishop said and explained, “We all know that for a tree to grow to the level where these trees are at, it takes many years. As such we cannot argue that we cut them down and plant others. Instead let us plant others so that we have many more trees in our town.”
The Prelate disclosed that some of the trees being cut are only found in South Sudan and are rare species in the whole world.
Emphasizing the significance of having the trees in the society as he warns on their destruction the Bishop Kussala said, “These huge indigenous trees keep the air that we breathe clean and fresh, they bring rain that help our crops to grow, they make our town beautiful and act as shades to people during hot seasons. Kindly, let us stop their destruction.”
Linking his concern for care of creation to this year’s Lenten Campaign theme for South Sudan Catholic Church which is “Preservation and conservation of our Environment the Mother Earth,” Rt. Rev. Hiiboro emphasized that it is time therefore to be concerned of this “noble duty of preserving our environment.”
In the Lenten message, the Prelate had earlier noted at the beginning of Lent the urgent need to rebuild relationship with the planet which calls for “change of habits on how we pray and how we act.”
“Responding to the poverty and environmental crises of our times goes right to the heart of what it means to be a Christian in today’s world, following God who calls us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him,” reads part of Bishop Hiiboro’s Lenten message on preservation and conservation of mother earth.
He adds, “As stated by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, environmental degradation poses urgent challenge to the human family and we need to protect our environment. Together we can seek sustainable and integral development, which resonates with the Catholic Social Teaching.”
In his Wednesday message addressed to the government officials of Western Equatoria State, Republic of South Sudan, the Local Ordinary of Tombura-Yambia Diocese appealed to the leaders “to consider giving this matter the seriousness it deserves by asking those cutting the trees down to stop.”
“I am greatly honored and privileged to bring this act to your attention, and am ready to assist in putting the destruction of our environment to a speedy stop,” he narrated and continued, “Our environment is our life. Together let us preserve our environment so that we can have a better tomorrow.”
