Forest Service Agent example essay topic

Scott Seybold Agr. / Nat. resources 103 M-W-F 9: 00-9: 50 The Trees of Sogolonbougou The article about the trees of Sogolonbougou discussed the attempts to preserve and protect the forest regions and trees in West Africa. The two main characters of this article are Amadou Diarra who is an agent working for the Forest Service in the region of mali, and Djokolo Coulibaly who is the elder chief of the village of Sogolonbougou. For decades the Malian farmers have used traditional methods for clearing agricultural land such as "slash and burn" or "shifting cultivation" agriculture. The use of these methods removes trees and plants destroying forest areas. These methods were used because they were the easiest, least labor intensive way.

The use of fire such as in "slash and burn" agriculture was prohibited by the forest code of Mali. This law code also prohibited any abuse that may result in the destruction of forest regions or in areas where wind or water erosion could affect the soil and terrain. These circumstances were the reason for the argument between Diarra and Coulibaly. The people of Sogolonbougou were using these farming methods to try to grow enough food to feed its' people. As the population in the region grew the demand for agricultural products began to rise. The demand for livestock also began to rise.

Because of the rise in these demands the need for agricultural land also increased. In order for the farmers to produce more they cleared more land. The forest service had spotted the small bush fire in the vicinity of Sogolonbougou and went to the village to impose a fine on chief Coulibaly. Chief Coulibaly and the village had never had a very good relationship with the forest service. The village farmers would try to find a way around the situation by starting these bush fires when they were less likely to be noticed. They felt like their rights were being violated.

Coulibaly was upset because even though the forest service could not say exactly who started the fire he would be the one who had to pay the fine or go to jail. Since the average yearly income of the Malians was only $260 and the fine was roughly $150 Coulibaly did not want to have to pay it. There were ways in which he could get around paying Diarra. Many times a village could bribe a forest service agent by giving them a gift of a goat or some chickens. Because the families in these countries were large a gift such as this could help to feed an agents family. In this situation I would have to say that I am a middle of the road type.

I do not totally agree with one side over the other. I realize that the farmers were not using the methods they were using to try and destroy the trees or the forest. They were simply trying to feed their families and the people in the village. They were replanting these areas and using the crops for not only just food but building materials, fuel, mats, and forage to feed their livestock as well. On the other hand I realize that Diarra had to do his job and enforce the forestry laws. If the laws were not enforced then whole ecosystems would be destroyed from adverse agricultural practices, lumbering, overgrazing, and charcoal production.

This would cause animals in that ecosystem to die and / or possibly become extinct which would affect the people since the animals were a source of food. Further food supplies could be lost as the soil becomes degraded or as the soil lost its nutrients because it now longer had plants and trees providing organic matter to it. I think the forest service should work with the people of the village to put new agricultural methods to use and possibly start a preservation program that both sides could manage and agree on..