Forest Fire Exposes Illegal Charcoal Industry in Morocco’s El Hajeb Region

The fire lifted the veil on the existence of a clandestine charcoal industry, whose existence the authorities were unaware of. Coal mines that, with or without the approval of the Water and Forests services, were operating in an area supposed to be under forest jurisdiction.

Witnesses cited by Al Massae attribute responsibility for the fire to the carelessness of certain individuals, who were busy lighting a fire for charcoal preparation, triggering a fire especially with the high temperatures.

An investigation has been opened by the services of the Royal Gendarmerie, who have indicted the individual in question, pending shedding light on the existence of such coal mines in an area supposed to be under the supervision of the High Commission for Water and Forests and the Fight Against Desertification.