The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) has been actively combating illegal tree felling to protect the environment. In a recent operation, BASEPA arrested 23 individuals involved in unauthorized tree cutting and confiscated 600 bags of charcoal in Dass and Toro local government areas. The Acting Director of BASEPA, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, stated that a surveillance team detected the illegal activities, leading to the arrests. Eighteen of the suspects were prosecuted, while five were released. The confiscated charcoal was auctioned to the public. The state government plans to provide alternative livelihoods for those involved in tree felling, such as vocational skills acquisition, bee farming, and livestock production. Additionally, BASEPA has embarked on sensitization campaigns against tree felling and is collaborating with stakeholders to offer alternative energy sources to curb the indiscriminate felling of trees for domestic use. 

In a related development, a mobile court of BASEPA sentenced nine individuals to prison and confiscated three trailer loads of charcoal. The trailers, carrying 500 bags of charcoal, were intercepted in Nabardo village, Toro local government area, based on a tip-off. The court ruled that the confiscated charcoal be auctioned, with proceeds deposited into the Bauchi State Government account. The three owners of the charcoal were sentenced to three months imprisonment or fined N100,000 each as compensation for environmental damage. BASEPA's Director General, Dr. Ibrahim Kabir, emphasized the dangers of deforestation and urged the public to avoid tree felling and to engage in tree planting to combat climate change. 

These actions reflect BASEPA's commitment to enforcing environmental laws and protecting Bauchi State's natural resources.