Causes, Limitations, and Strategies for Possible interventions on Deforestation and Charcoal Export

SATG (Somali Agricultural Technical Group)

Introduction

Deforestation and charcoal export to Middle Eastern countries is one of the major causes of environmental degradation in Somalia. In recent years, illegal cutting of trees to produce charcoal for export has become a booming business industry with considerable profits. Most of the charcoal is prepared in southern Somalia and exported through the ports in Mogadishu, and Kismayo. Lack of local administration in the southern regions has exacerbated the problem. Somaliland and Puntland also experience the same problem but to a lesser extent. As a result of deforestation, land suitable for grazing is destroyed. This practice will inevitably affect the nomadic communities who entirely depend on grazing. Some of the most visible results of this action are extinction of wildlife and endangered crop species, soil erosion, soil degradation and an irreversible long term impact on the agriculture ecosystems.  

Root causes of the Problem

There are several causes contributing to the deforestation and charcoal export. Some of these causes are:

1.      Clearing land for settlements and for construction driven by human population growth and the demand for open land and construction material.

2.      Clearing land for cultivation, this is also driven my human population growth and the demand for food

3.      Cutting trees for livestock feed and overgrazing of bushes.

4.      Cutting trees for energy for domestic use and for export (high foreign demand for charcoal is a major driving force of deforestation; this is the most serious problem facing Somalia).  

Major Limiting Factors

1.      Lack of enabling environment

2.      Lack of property rights

3.      Non existence of institutions that research, document, develop and enforce rules and regulations for managing natural resources

4.      Contradicting government ministries pursuing different objectives or simply having disjoint operations

5.      Low cost and unregulated fuel woods market

6.      Higher cost and lack of know-how on the use of cooking gas, and

7.      Lack of alternative livelihoods for those involved in fuel wood enterprise

8.      Lack of government

Strategies for Intervention

1. Establish and strengthen the NGOs currently involved in combating desertification in their capacity in data gathering, documenting and developing public awareness of the problem as well as initiating pilot projects such as planting trees in community protected areas near villages! These will be used as educational areas.
2. Initiate programs through NGOs that promote the use of cooking gas technologies in the urban areas, reducing the taxes on cooking gas technologies. Performance of NGOs will be determined by their ability to transform urban use of wood fuel to cooking gas technology. This performance will be assessed against predetermined targets. But this will not be possible as long as the charcoal option is cheaper. This calls for effective regulation of charcoal market. This can be addressed, at least temporarily, by developing programs for the functioning regional governments and functioning local village councils to regulate the charcoal market under strict UNDP or UNEP guidelines. The proceedings of the charcoal tax could be matched with development fund (dollar for 2 dollars), which will be spent on development program on the most affected areas (which lose the charcoal income) due to the regulation and on the development and promotion of cooking gas technology.

3. The UNDPO should make dialogue with the importing countries along with Somali stakeholders (Concerned Somali entities like Universities, NGOS, this Forum, etc) in taking credible actions in controlling the charcoal imports in to their countries.
4.  Capacity building of NGOS and stakeholder discussion in taking actions.  
5. Use of efficient stoves for charcoal and firewood. These have been tried before. They are efficient and cheap to make.
6. Regenerations of indigenous tree species and introducing fast growing tree species with technical assistance from ICRAF.
7. Tap into the gas fields that are being developed in Ethiopia Somali region. This will enhance trade, use of clean energy and peace in the region.
8. Introduction of simple and easy to use solar cooking devises specially in the rural areas. Solar cooking demonstrated to be successful in the past.
9. Tap into the existing professional expertise in the agro-forestery sector.