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GAROWE — The Puntland authorities have announced stricter oversight measures on the transportation and trade of locally produced firewood and charcoal as part of ongoing efforts to protect the environment, curb desertification, and conserve natural resources. Puntland Police said the new directives are based on the Environmental Protection Law and are intended to strengthen enforcement against illegal tree cutting while safeguarding the region’s vegetation cover.
In an official statement, the police said the increasing production and transportation of firewood and charcoal in recent years has placed growing pressure on forests and natural woodlands, contributing to environmental degradation in several areas. The statement added that protecting natural resources is a national responsibility requiring coordinated efforts by government institutions, security agencies, and local communities to ensure their sustainability for future generations.
The Puntland Police directed all security units to intensify inspections and monitoring of vehicles transporting firewood and charcoal and to take legal action against anyone found violating the new directives or engaging in activities that damage vegetation. It also called on citizens and traders to cooperate with the relevant authorities and report environmental violations, stressing that public participation is a key pillar of environmental protection.
The statement noted that the measures are based on Articles 8 and 16 of Puntland’s Environmental Protection Law, which authorize the competent authorities to take the necessary steps to prevent activities that threaten natural resources. It emphasized that the law will be applied equally to all violators in order to uphold the rule of law, preserve vegetation, and reduce the spread of desertification.
Large parts of Somalia continue to face mounting environmental challenges driven by climate change, recurrent droughts, and the decline of vegetation cover, making natural resource protection a key environmental and development priority. Environmental experts consider tighter controls on tree exploitation and the unregulated firewood and charcoal trade an important step toward conserving biodiversity, strengthening communities’ resilience to climate challenges, and promoting the sustainable management of natural resources.
