Avellino - A targeted operation by the Carabinieri of the Summonte Forestry Unit has uncovered a serious case of illegal logging in the Irpinia region. The perpetrator is a 40-year-old local man, who has been reported at large to the Avellino Prosecutor's Office for theft of trees and destruction of natural beauty.
The operation was triggered during routine environmental checks conducted by the Carabinieri to protect the area's forests and landscapes. The officers, patrolling a wooded area subject to landscape restrictions in Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo, caught the man in the act: armed with cutting tools, he was chopping and loading approximately 30 kilograms of chestnut wood onto a tractor and trailer, without authorization.
The ecological and environmental value of these chestnut forests is inestimable: not only do they represent a resource for local biodiversity, but they also contribute to the prevention of hydrogeological instability in a mountainous region like Irpinia. Illegal activity not only deprives the community of a common good, but also risks altering the natural balance of protected areas, with potential consequences for wildlife and the landscape.
The tractor, trailer, and entire consignment of firewood were immediately seized and are now being held at the disposal of the judicial authorities. The man, a local native, will now face charges that carry severe penalties, including possible confiscation of the equipment used.
This incident is part of a broader surveillance campaign conducted by the Carabinieri, which will continue in the coming days with further inspections in neighboring municipalities. The goal is clear: to preserve the environment and discourage behavior that threatens the fragile balance between humanity and nature in Campania.
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Comments (1)
It's truly a shame that there are people who disrespect nature and do such terrible things as cut down trees without permission. I hope that inspections continue to protect the woods and local wildlife, thus preventing further damage.