DILI, 01 april 2022 (TATOLI)- International Conservation Timor-Leste (ICTL) is handing over equipment and motorbikes to the forest guard to ensure the effectiveness of control for national protective forest’s Nino Konis Santana.
The Country Director of International Conservation Timor- Leste, Manuel Mendes said ICTL is committed to supporting the national forest department to intensify the controlling process to the protective forest across Timor-Leste, especially in the National Park of Nino Konis Santana.
” ICTL observed that there are lots of damages in the forest areas across TL’ Forestry and even for thousands of species of flora and animals,” Country Director of International Conservation Timor- Leste, Manuel Mendes told reports at Caicoli, this Friday.
He added, people’s community still lacks consciousness for burning forests and killing species of animals.
National Director of Conservation Forestry and Development Eco-Tourism, Joao Antalmo said the government has a responsibility to protect the habitats of species on the land, Walters, and even in the air.
All people have the responsibility to protect nature and animals. It is not only for the forest guards to play this role.
“Every day a lot of people illegally kill and destroy the habitats of species of nature and animals. People use it for commercial and collect some income to survive,” National Director of Conservation Forestry and Development Eco-Tourism, João Antalmo explained
Mr. Antalmo added that to conserve the species, the government has recruited forest guards to take care of forests and protect the conservation of fora and fauna.
The team leader of Guard forestry in National Albino Pereira acknowledged the lack of operation materials and some have been damaged.
There are 324 florets guards available. In 2021, the recruitment made for 50 staff and 180 forestry guards, with more recruitment in 2022. However, the number still is not sufficient to cover all protective forests across Timor-Leste.
It is required for huge responsibility for 98 protective forestry coverage areas. The estimation is that a person can take control of 50 hectares of forests.
Timor-Leste has 869.000 hectares of forests across Timor-Leste. 1738 forest guards are needed. The government has a policy to recruit more forest guards to protect Timorese richness across the forest in the country.
There are some supporters of six motorbikes, tents, camping and torches, and the first Aids. ICTL is providing 20 thousand USD for procuring those items.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
