The forests of Upper Tambaka Chiefdom are under severe threat as rampant and uncontrolled logging continues to destroy the rich biodiversity surrounding the Outamba Kilimi National Park (OKNP) and its buffer zones. Once considered a stronghold of wildlife conservation and ecological balance, the chiefdom is now facing extensive deforestation, with devastating consequences for both the environment and the local communities.
According to residents and environmental stakeholders, illegal logging activities have decimated significant portions of community forests, which served as critical habitats for endangered species such as chimpanzees, elephants, red-flanked duikers and yellow-backed duikers. These forests not only housed diverse wildlife but also play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of local people, particularly those dependent on agriculture.
Stakeholders further revealed that the planks harvested from these forests are being transported and exported to neighboring Guinea, with no economic returns or developmental benefits accruing to Upper Tambaka. “The roads are left in deplorable condition, the environment is damaged and the people are left worse off,” a concerned resident lamented. “We get nothing but dust, destruction and deforestation.”
Environmentalists warn that the unchecked logging has exacerbated climate change in the region, contributing to unpredictable rainfall patterns and declining agricultural productivity. “No forest means no rain and without rain, our farming suffers,” said another resident, pointing to the growing challenges faced by the chiefdom’s largely agrarian population.
Reports indicate that on a near-daily basis, large trucks travel from Guinea into Tambaka to collect planks from multiple collection points around the park and in surrounding community forests. The most active depositing sites include Lakatha Community in Thandatha Village and Sanya, a key loading zone near the Guinea border.
Despite the presence of Rangers and Forestry officials, who are deployed in partnership with Chiefdom authorities to safeguard the environment, enforcement remains weak and ineffective. Many residents believe that collaboration alone is not enough without stronger Government intervention and legal enforcement.
“The destruction of these forest corridors equates to the destruction of the park itself,” noted a conservation advocate. “These are high-value conservation areas that support both wildlife and human communities. Their loss threatens the entire ecological and economic system.”
Environmental degradation in Upper Tambaka is said to be more severe than in any other chiefdom within Karene District. What was once known as a bastion of conservation has become a hotbed of environmental exploitation. Many residents are now calling for urgent reforestation initiatives and community-led conservation efforts to reverse the damage.
“We must give back to nature by planting trees and protecting our environment,” urged a youth leader from the chiefdom. “If we don’t act now, we risk losing not just our forests, but our future.”
With pressure mounting for immediate action, concerned citizens and conservation groups are urging Government agencies and international partners to intervene and help preserve what remains of Upper Tambaka’s rapidly vanishing forests.
