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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
How does charcoal burning work?
This is Paulin Ngobobo. I often refer to charcoal burning as one of the main illegal activities in Virunga National Park and one of the challenges we face. This may not be clear to all of you. I know everyone is familiar with illegal logging, but charcoal burning is different. In short, people cut down trees to burn them, in situ, to make charcoal. This charcoal is then sold in Goma or elsewhere.
We often come across charcoal burning. And these pictures show you how it works.
First the charcoal burners chop down a tree. Often, with a tree of this size, they do not use the whole trunk but the large side branches. But they chop the whole tree down anyway.
Then they stack up the branches into a dome shape. Here you can see my men dismantling one of these domes.
Then the charcoal burners put a layer of mud over the wood, to isolate the wood from the atmosphere. This makes the wood burn stronger and form charcoal. They leave it for a day or two to burn.
Here you can see what I mean. This was a charcoal burning scene we came across and you can see my Rangers destroying the fire by removing the layer of mud.
Once the wood has become charcoal the people put it into sacks.
So as you can see it causes real destruction, and is one of the principal challenges for me and my Rangers.
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11 Responses to “How does charcoal burning work?”
OMG, that pile is huge! Thank you for explaining this, Paulin, because I had no idea about the destruction involved. You and your rangers really have a lot to manage and I cannot thank you enough for taking it on.
s.
God more trees cut down..when are people gonna stop destroying the planet. No that leaves the gorillas less tress to which to hide or build nests among the other animals that use this forest as their sactuary.
Paulin, I don’t know if you know yet or not, but there was a front-page story about you and the rangers in the Washington Post newspaper here in the United States! It was great and maybe bring alot more attention to your cause!!!
Living in Washington, I am hoping yesterday’s front page story on the park and the terrific work of Paulin and the other rangers. The article was sent to my friends, and hopefully the spread of it will generate much needed support to help protect the gorillas and other wildlife in Africa.
[...] he watches after Congo’s greatest musicians. Paulin has posted a series of pictures on his blog, Gorilla Protection, illustrating the threat posed to the forest by charcoal burning. And Joe Thompson shares his diary [...]
With a small monthly donation, something like a tithe, I finally have devotion and hope that the priceless Virungas can overcome the plight and plague of the desperately needy & greedy. It is both humbling and satisfying to commit resources to a cause that good and selfless people live and die for.
I cannot understand how these wonderful animals are being destroyed because of greed. I have much respect and admiration for you Paulin and the other rangers who work so diligently to preserve these gorillas. I only hope you and the rangers will be able to continue to protect and care for them as you have been. Thank you for all you do.
Paulin, I don’t know if you know, or not, but there is a about you and the Washington post here in the United States of forest protection personnel front story! This is great, may bring more attention to your career!
[...] Although it was great to see this beautiful area from above, I was saddened to see several charcoal fires burning within the [...]
Thank you for explaining this
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