Algeria Forestry Department: “Arsonists involved in forest blazes will be severely punished”
The National Forestry General Management has taken a set of drastic measures aimed at curbing damaging forest fires in various provinces of the country notably through the enforcement of tough legal sanctions against anyone suspected of being behind forest blazes.
A manager in charge of the prevention of fauna and flora at the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, Amar Boumezbar, said that investigations on the ground had revealed that the human factor was responsible for a rate of 99 per cent in all the forest fires recorded last year.
A total of 99 thousand hectares of forests and bushes were turned into ashes in 2012, he indicated.
As a consequence, he pointed out that the relevant authorities had decided to apply stringent punitive measures, including lengthy jail terms, on anyone involved in acts of arson.
He further asserted that the National Forestry General Management would henceforth be endowed with brand-new technological equipment including helicopters for the prevention and detection of forest fires across many provinces of the country.
According to civil protection sources, 147 hectares of forests have been destroyed in 27 blazes registered across the national territory between June 1st and July 3rd 2013.
The wilaya or province of M’Sila, in eastern Algeria, is currently the most affected by forest fires with 4 blazes which have devastated 53 hectares, the same sources added.