Taking care of the old

It is very good that the government enforces laws concerning forests, but it is also important to maintain the few areas that have mature trees.

I pass every day a large wooden area near the village of Ragaha, in Wadi Seer. It is a beautiful small forest in a very scenic area, but the large trees are in bad need of care. Many have fallen over and died during last winter. No forestry workers have come to remove them, and they are a real fire hazard and look unattractive.

I have seen picnickers lighting fires, and since there are no signs to educate them of the dangers, they seem to think it is completely OK to do so and leave their garbage behind.

Of course, there are no garbage containers in the area and no notices to inform people of the health dangers of leaving food and plastic on the forest floor, instead of taking garbage back home to dispose of in the proper way.

I do not understand why the wood is not removed and sold as firewood by the government to create revenue, and in the empty place new saplings could be planted to grow and keep the forest lush and renewed.

Why not have schoolchildren do community service this summer?

They could be given rakes and garbage bags, and clean up our forested areas.

They could get extra points in sociology and citizenship, and be taught to have pride in the country.

Rosemary Bdeir,

Amman