Authorities Seize Illegal Charcoal Operations in Rural Tartus

As part of ongoing efforts to preserve forestry resources and curb environmental violations, the Forestry Department of the Tartus Agriculture Directorate has conducted a wide-ranging field inspection across various sites in the rural Al-Qadmus area. The operation successfully targeted and dismantled several illegal charcoal-burning operations.

The Tartus Agriculture Directorate confirmed that the inspection campaign was conducted under the direct supervision of the Director of Agriculture, Mohammed Ahmed, and the Head of the Forestry Department, Alaa Ibrahim. This initiative is part of an intensified effort to enhance field monitoring of the province’s forests and protected woodland areas.

During the inspections, officials identified multiple charcoal kilns, some of which were in the process of being prepared, while others were already fully operational and ready for the sale of their products. Additionally, authorities discovered significant quantities of wood that had been gathered through illicit means.

The enforcement operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 8.65 tons of firewood and 3.3 tons of charcoal produced from the illegal burning activities. Furthermore, the authorities confiscated all equipment and tools utilized by the perpetrators for their illicit operations, including chainsaws, tillers, and various implements used in the processing and carbonization of the timber.

Following the discovery of these violations, the necessary legal reports were filed against the offenders. All confiscated materials and equipment have been secured in the Forestry Department’s warehouses.

These measures are part of the Tartus Agriculture Directorate’s sustained efforts to pursue those who damage forestry resources and to ensure the strict application of laws governing forest protection. Such oversight is vital, particularly in areas experiencing illegal activities that threaten to deplete vegetation cover and destroy the vital forestry wealth of the province.

Source: Syria Focus Arabic