Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Calhau Agricultural Association in São Vicente warned this Tuesday about the danger of uncontrolled felling of acacia trees for charcoal production and called for the creation of legislation to regulate the activity.
In an interview with Inforpress, the association’s president, Eder Rodrigues, warned that during the August 11 storm, the shafts were clogged with acacia branches, creating a kind of “beaver lodge,” blocking the normal flow of water.
A double-edged sword, since for landowners, acacia trees compete for water with other crops and jeopardize production, while also holding the land together to prevent it from being washed away by floodwaters on rainy days.
“I understand it’s a way of life, but when you cut it down and leave behind debris and branches on the ground, on rainy days it gets carried away and gets tangled up in other trees, clogging crankshafts and diverting water pipes, which ends up causing even more destruction,” explained the farmer, who fears that the acacias will cause more flooding in future rains.
Therefore, he proposes that legislation be created to ensure that tree felling “is done in an orderly manner,” without harming nature or local communities, and that fines be imposed on those who fail to comply.
Alternatively, Eder Rodrigues suggests that individuals and companies operating in the charcoal industry contact the Ministry of Agriculture to request a designated area for logging.
The association’s request aims to prevent further problems and flooding caused by the improper disposal of acacia material in streams, something that has already become a recurring problem.
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