Forest Proximity

The forest environment is often neglected until a fire emerges, leading to calls for action, remorse, and grief. However, in Marina, nearly 70% of the land belongs to private individuals, while the remainder is unused and neglected due to its lack of immediate economic value. Excessive use of our woodland areas until the 1960s resulted in severe erosion, leading to continuous ravines and floods never before witnessed. However, the revegetation of barren land, previously abused for firewood, livestock, lime kilns, and coal, has since greatly mitigated the issue. Therefore, it is paramount that we manage these green forests proactively. The government is making increasing efforts to address this issue with care and resources. However, private landowners also need to be involved. The recent forest fire, the impetus for this plan, presents an opportunity for measures and actions aimed at balancing possible uses with biodiversity conservation and most importantly, forest sustainability.