Why we stopped illegal burning of trees for charcoal in Taraba – Task Force committee

Brig General Jeremiah Faransa (Rtd), Chairman of Taraba State Special Task Force Committee on Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Deforestation, has said the fear of desert encroachment and other environmental degradation, is behind the current effort to curb tree burning for charcoal. There has been an outcry in Taraba state over the rising […]

Brig General Jeremiah Faransa (Rtd), Chairman of Taraba State Special Task Force Committee on Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Deforestation, has said the fear of desert encroachment and other environmental degradation, is behind the current effort to curb tree burning for charcoal.

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. Some homestead said the crisis has led to more hardship, especially in the face of the cost of gas and fuel for domestic use.

But, providing explanations during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, Faransa noted that the government is aware of the hardship but wants to control the illegal carting away of economic trees. He noted that a cartel is involved in the illegal burning of trees, with the state immensely losing to the nefarious activities.

He said charcoal has become an export product from Taraba state, stressing that the activities of the loggers must be checked.

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

He noted further that the current burning of trees for charcoal in Taraba state only benefits the cartel reselling the product outside the state.

He said, “the charcoal is sold in Jalingo for 4,500 naira but resold at 12, 000 naira in Abuja. The cartel is the one benefitting.”

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

He said the government is not totally against the use of firewood for cooking but the unscrupulous destruction of economic trees.