By Ndujihe Clifford Chiebuka
Taraba State’s environmental sustainability is under threat due to the influx of large-scale charcoal merchants from neighboring states and Abuja, who are felling economic trees for charcoal production.
The state’s Special Taskforce on Illegal Mining and Environmental Protection has warned that this unchecked deforestation exacerbates climate change and jeopardizes the state’s ecosystem.
The taskforce, led by Chairman Brig. Gen. Jeremiah Faransa, has taken action by confiscating trucks transporting charcoal out of the state. While the state acknowledges the local use of charcoal, it won’t tolerate indiscriminate felling for external profit.
Taraba State is rich in natural resources, with potentials for sugarcane production and other agricultural activities. However, the invasion of charcoal merchants poses a significant risk to the state’s environmental sustainability. The state has an enviable topography, with wave-like plains and rising hills, and sits upon over 40 untapped natural resources.
Key Concerns:
- Environmental Degradation: Unchecked deforestation harming the state’s ecosystem
- Climate Change: Activities worsening climate change
- Economic Loss: Valuable natural resources being exploited for charcoal production
Taskforce Actions:
- Confiscating charcoal transportation trucks
- Investigating and monitoring charcoal production activities
By addressing this issue, Taraba State aims to protect its natural resources and ensure a sustainable future for its citizens.
Source: Vanguard
