Lessons from eastern Africa’s unsustainable charcoal business

Abstract

Although charcoal meets 80% of urban households’ energy needs in eastern Africa, it hardly attracts the attention of policy makers. Yet charcoal will remain the main cooking fuel for most people in the region’s towns for the foreseeable future because it is affordable. As demand for charcoal increases with rapid urbanisation, so does pressure on forests and woodlands, most of which are poorly managed and prone to degradation. Matters are made worse because there are no incentives for investment in planned charcoal production. Consequently, the current charcoal business is unsustainable and has a negative image. Banning the making and transportation of charcoal in some countries has largely been unsuccessful in regulating its production and trade. There is need to look for alternative ways of dealing with charcoal issues. Over the past few years, the Regional Land Management Unit (RELMA) has conducted a series of workshops to discuss charcoal trade in the region. From the discussions, it was clear that contradictory directives and weak laws are to blame for the confusion in the charcoal business in eastern Africa. Apart from Sudan and Kenya, the other countries are yet to formulate policies or enact laws to promote sustainable charcoal production and use. While Sudan has a regulatory system of planting and harvesting trees for charcoal production, the other countries neither plant trees nor give land owners incentives to do so. Instead, they are preoccupied with policing exploitation of existing stocks of wood. Other obstacles to streamlining charcoal trade include inefficient production methods, poor marketing and its semi-illegal status. What must be done? It is vital to create the right climate for profitable and sustainable charcoal production. This can be done by formulating sound policies and enacting appropriate laws. Regulation of charcoal production, distribution and marketing should be assigned to a single authority that would be accountable for all issues relating to the industry. Finally, there should be short- and long-term plans for tree planting by smallholders and the private sector. With the right climate, charcoal trade can be turned round to provide employment and protect the environment it now threatens.