Taraba fights back against illegal tree-cutting

The Taraba State Government has stated that the fear of desert encroachment and other environmental degradation is behind its current effort to curb tree-cutting and burning for charcoal.

The Chairman of the Taraba Task Force on Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Land Degradation, Gen. Jeremiah Faransa, made this known at a press conference in Jalingo, the state capital.

However, in providing explanations, Faransa stated that the state government is aware of the rising cost of charcoal but aims to control the illegal removal of economic trees.

Faransa noted that charcoal has become an export product from Taraba State, stressing that the activities of loggers must be checked, as the state is losing significantly to these nefarious activities.

According to Faransa, the state has a duty to protect the land from illegal tree-cutting. He said that going forward, those cutting trees must also plant more.

He stated, “The current burning of trees for charcoal in Taraba State only benefits the cartel reselling the product outside the state. The charcoal is sold in Jalingo for 4,500 naira but resold at 12,000 naira in Abuja. The cartel is the one benefitting.”

Faransa noted that the state government is looking for ways to alleviate the people’s suffering through innovative means beyond charcoal.

He added, “The state government is not totally against the use of firewood for cooking, but it is opposed to the unscrupulous destruction of economic trees.”

PUNCH Online reports that there has been an outcry in Taraba State over the rising cost of charcoal due to the ongoing battle against the illegal cutting of trees.

It was learned that the crisis has led to increased hardship, especially in light of the rising costs of gas and fuel for domestic use.