In Kirundo Commune, Butanyerera Province, the large-scale felling of state-owned forest plantations has been observed in recent days, raising serious concerns among local residents.
“Is this part of a government policy to destroy the forests, or are public officials seeking personal enrichment ?” This is the question many residents are asking as they denounce the intensive exploitation of public forest plantations without any official explanation.
According to several testimonies, the logging operations are taking place notably in the forest plantation located on the site of the former Kirundo Commune headquarters and in the Muyange area. The felled trees are processed into timber, while the remaining wood is converted into charcoal. The products are then loaded onto trucks and transported to undisclosed destinations.
Residents say they have sought explanations from local authorities regarding the ongoing operations but have received no satisfactory response. This lack of transparency has fueled concerns and suspicions that the plantations may be exploited outside legal procedures for the benefit of private interests.
The local population also expresses deep concern about the environmental consequences of the extensive logging, warning of increased risks of deforestation and ecosystem degradation. They emphasize that these plantations have long served as an important community resource and played a vital role in environmental conservation.
Residents are therefore calling on the country’s highest authorities, particularly the Ministry responsible for the Environment, to launch an investigation and establish the full facts surrounding the activities taking place in these public forest plantations and, where appropriate, determine accountability.