The minister of agriculture, forestry and animal resources in South Sudan’s Tonj State on Wednesday warned residents against cutting down of trees which he says has now become a common practice.

Angelo Deng Magol says if people continue cutting down trees, the area may experience scarcity of rains and intense soil erosion during the rainy season.

“These trees they act as rain attractors so they attract the rains and even fertilize the soil when they break the leaves fall down and they will make very good manure that will add new nutrients to the soil and when you cultivate you find that your crops will do very well and its very important because if you don’t have trees we are not going to get the maximum production that we need,” he advised.

The minister further warned against the cutting of specifically mahogany trees saying it is illegal and goes against the rules and regulations of the forestry department.

Deng added that his ministry is working hard to issue rules and regulations to safeguard the states resources.