The Forestry Commission is backing stronger security measures to protect the nation’s forest reserves and water bodies, including the gradual arming of forest guards and a possible shift toward a more militarised structure.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer Elikem Kotoko explained that the government’s recent decision to declare forest reserves and water bodies as security zones reflects the seriousness of the illegal mining crisis.
“Now that we have declared it as a security zone also, it tells you that you must have very good enough reason to be there. If not, you will find it very difficult to escape if you are actually found culpable,” he said on Channel One TV.
Kotoko drew comparisons with neighboring countries, where forestry commissions operate as military extensions.
“In our neighboring countries, their forest services, for instance, or the forestry commissions, are actually just a detachment or deployment from the military. So they are not even civilians at all, because forests and water bodies are supposed to be national security matters,” he explained.
He argued in favor of equipping forest guards with weapons to enhance their safety and effectiveness.
“Forest guards are supposed to be armed, but not fully. As we sit now, if you ask me, I’ll say yes, because fortunately I happen to be working at the Forestry Commission. I would not want to lose a single of my men to any misconduct of environmental degradation,” he said.
Kotoko added that he would support a complete structural shift if the President decided to transform the Commission into a military-backed institution.
“Even if the president decides that from tomorrow onwards, every staff of the Forestry Commission should rather be a military personnel… I’ll be okay for it, because that will instill some discipline into the institution,” he stated.
