Almost 70 tons of carob charcoal seized in Lambayeque alone so far in 2022

So far in 2022, the National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor) has seized in Lambayeque around 1,000 bags, equivalent to 68 tons, of carob charcoal (Prosopis pallida) of illegal origin.

The last intervention was carried out in the early hours of this Tuesday at the Mocupe Control Post, where the Technical Forestry and Wildlife Administration (ATFFS) of Lambayeque, in coordination with the National Police of Peru (PNP), detected a vehicle that was transporting 400 bags (approximately 70 kg each) of carob charcoal without Forest Transport Guide (GTF) that authorizes its mobilization and guarantees its legal origin.

The specialists of the ATFFS Lambayeque proceeded with the seizure of the forest product and the opening of the investigation to determine the administrative responsibilities of those involved. It is worth mentioning that the carob tree is categorized as “Vulnerable”, in accordance with Supreme Decree No. 043-2006-AG, which approves the categorization of endangered species of wild flora.

The head of ATFFS Lambayeque, Patricia Paredes, explained that SERFOR works in coordination with the Ecological Police and the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office (FEMA) and carries out unexpected operations and interventions to combat the illegal trade in forest products and wildlife.

”This year we have carried out a series of interventions and we have also gone to the field with the environmental authorities to carry out inspections. As a result of this work, we have seized more than 68 tons of carob charcoal and initiated Sanctioning Administrative Procedures against those responsible”, he emphasized.

Serfor: illegal carob tree in 2021

During 2021, the ATFFS Lambayeque seized more than 217 tons of carob charcoal, about 14 tons of palo santo and 42,856 board feet of wood of forest species such as faique, sapote and screw.

For the transport of forest products, it is mandatory to have the Forest Transport Guide in the vehicle, from the shipment to its final destination. This document contains the main data of the legal forest product transported.

Carob and grilled chicken

The carob tree is a tree with a thick trunk that grows wild up to 1,500 meters above sea level. According to Sernanp, it provides multiple benefits such as food, fodder, fertilizer, wood, medicine and raw material for the development of various economic-productive activities. However, many prefer to burn it to turn it into charcoal and sell it to poultry houses.

According to the Peruvian Society of Environmental Law (SPDA), the business of firewood or charcoal, formal and informal, moved around 50 million soles a year in 2015. In 2013 alone, between the forests of Tumbes, Piura and Lambayeque, 1,000 legal tons of this firewood were extracted.