This image reveals the aftermath of traditional production in drylands. The filled bags my symbolize income for households,yet behind them lies a deeper cost_ deforestation , soil erosion , biodiversity loss and worsening climate vulnerability .Each tree cut down for charcoal weakens the land's resilience, pushing communities closer to desertification. Striking a balance between livelihoods and environmental sustainability is now urgent than ever.
Charcoal production is on the increase in Ghana because it is the major source of fire for cooking in the domestic household.
The other alternative which is Gas, is very expensive and people cant afford.
Authorities should subsidised the price of gas so charcoal production could be minize to protect deforestation
@Abdiqadir Abdi This is such an important point you have raised here. Looking at Lagos, Nigeria, charcoal production has become a major livelihood source for many peri-urban and rural households, especially as demand for affordable cooking fuel continues to grow with the city’s population. The filled bags certainly represent income today, but the longer term costs are profound. Unregulated felling of trees in surrounding communities contributes to rapid deforestation, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity, while also undermining ecosystem services that protect against flooding and heat stress, issues Lagos is already highly vulnerable to and we are currently facing.
The challenge is finding that delicate balance between livelihood security and environmental sustainability. In Lagos, promoting alternatives such as clean cookstoves, LPG, or biomass briquettes, combined with stricter regulation of wood harvesting and reforestation programs, could help reduce the pressure on natural forests. At the same time, livelihood diversification programs can provide charcoal producers with pathways to new income streams, lessening dependence on destructive practices.
Charcoal may bring short-term relief for households, but as you point out, the deeper costs to land, climate, and community resilience are much higher. The urgency lies in shifting from extraction to regeneration, supporting both people and the planet
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