Pollino National Park: Forestry company owner reported for illegal logging

The owner of a forestry company has been reported to the Castrovillari Public Prosecutor's Office following the discovery of illegal logging within the Pollino National Park. The incident was uncovered by the Carabinieri Park Nucleus of San Donato di Ninea during a patrol in the Badia locality of Acquaformosa, Calabria.

Authorities intercepted a tractor carrying four individuals, including the company owner, transporting recently processed oak timber. The owner was unable to provide any authorization for the wood. Investigations revealed that the timber had been taken from a nearby property in the Galatro area, where several trees had been recently cut down.

To facilitate the removal of the wood, an unauthorized forest track exceeding 100 meters was also constructed. The area is subject to hydrogeological and landscape constraints and is part of the Natura 2000 network within the Pollino-Orsomarso Special Protection Zone. Officials have seized the timber and the illegal track.