Forestry Director: Put fallen trees and logs to good use

The fallen trees and logs now deposited on banks, shores and villages in the north of mainland St. Vincent as a result of the April 11, 2011, flash floods can be put to good use.{{more}}

According to Director of Forestry Brian Johnson, the fallen trees and logs may be used for commercial purposes. Speaking to Searchlight on Tuesday, April 19, Johnson said that the trees can be used for charcoal production as well as for lumber production. He added that some of the material may even be used for craft and that local persons should take the opportunity to reuse the material.

Johnson said that some of the trees in the mountains had fallen during the passage of Hurricane Tomas on October 30, 2010, and contributed to the blockage of river courses, while others had fallen as a result of landslides in the mountains due to the heavy rains. He added that it is possible that trees along river banks were uprooted as a result of the “volume and velocity” of the water flow along the banks.

Johnson said following the passage of Tomas, his department was aware of the hazard posed by the trees which had fallen, in relation to the blockage of water courses.

“We would have been aware of the extent of the damage.”

Johnson said assessments were done on water courses, river courses and streams after last year’s hurricane. However, in the interest of getting agricultural production back up as fast as possible, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries gave priority to clearing trees on farmland.

“Because of the limited resources in terms of equipment and manpower, we could not do both at the same time,” the forestry chief said.

Johnson also explained that some of last week’s landslides occurred as a result of deforestation, others as a result of extensive rainfall which occurred over the week, creating water logged soils.

“We have to understand that landslides are a normal occurrence because of geology and topography of the upper watershed.”

Johnson added that the fallen trees contributed to the damage of the water catchments at Congo Valley, Jennings and Perseverance. The Richmond Valley and the Wallilabou River on the leeward side of the mainland were also affected, he said.

The Chief Forestry Officer highlighted the importance of proper upper watershed management, noting that what happens downstream is as a result of what happens upstream. He added that the disaster which occurred last week is one such example. Johnson stated that their needs to be proper management of farms, adding that persons should desist from the dumping of solid waste material on river banks.

Johnson said the Forestry Department has submitted a preliminary report to Central Government which contains, among other things, recommendations for the rehabilitation process, which will include replanting of trees. (OS)