Local Activist Links Conflict in Yei to Climate Damage

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – A civil society activist in Yei River County has raised the alarm over widespread deforestation in South Sudan, warning that unchecked tree felling is worsening environmental damage and undermining national efforts to address climate change.

Justoson Victor Yoasa, a local activist, said increasing insecurity and ongoing economic hardship are pushing communities across the country to cut down trees at an unsustainable rate, particularly for charcoal production.

“I am not happy as a citizen of South Sudan because I see many trees being cut without replacement, largely due to the conflict,” he said. “If we had peace, the laws on tree cutting could be properly enforced.”

Victor noted that many families and even some public officials are turning to charcoal as an income source in the absence of other economic opportunities. He stressed that this trend is not only damaging forests but also contributing to long term environmental decline.

In addition to forest loss, Victor expressed concern about rising pollution levels. He pointed out the improper disposal of plastic bottles and chemical containers, which are often dumped in the open and washed into rivers during heavy rain. These pollutants, he warned, can poison water systems, kill fish and endanger human health if they enter the food chain.

“Some of these chemicals can cause serious diseases, including cancer, if consumed over time,” he said.

Local residents are also voicing similar concerns. Loduwe Richard, a community member in Yei, warned that the nation’s future is under threat unless urgent action is taken to protect South Sudan’s forests.

“We need stronger public advocacy so every family understands the importance of trees, not just for the environment, but also for the economy,” he said.

Richard called on the National Ministry of Forestry and Environment to enforce tougher regulations on both commercial and domestic tree cutting. He argued that environmental destruction is happening too quickly and is outpacing the country’s ability to recover.

“If we do not act now, we may lose our forests completely,” he warned.

Lugala Amos, Director of Environment and Forestry in Yei, issued a separate appeal, asking residents to stop cutting natural shade trees that provide cover for people and animals. He explained that excessive loss of shade trees is already altering the local climate and threatening livelihoods.

“Many families rely on forest resources to survive,” he said. “We are harming ourselves by destroying the very ecosystem that supports us.”

The warnings from activists and local leaders come amid growing calls for climate action in South Sudan, a country already experiencing severe impacts from global warming. Earlier this year, record heat forced hundreds of schools to close and caused the deaths of both livestock and people.

Environmental experts and civil society groups are now urging national authorities, local communities and development partners to prioritise reforestation, waste management and environmental education, especially in rural and conflict affected areas.