Alex Clute
January 22, 2011
1300 EST
According to a story by the Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), deforestation in Somalia is being furthered along rapidly by the charcoal trade. Charcoal, made by burning wood in a low oxygen atmosphere, is used by many around the world for daily cooking, making it a vital component of people's lives. The Somali charcoal trade has increased to meet the demand of Gulf States that have banned charcoal production within their own borders precisely for the same reason, deforestation (Menke 2009). As often seems to be the case in efforts to conserve the environment, preservation of one country's resources means the increased exploitation of another's in a trickle down effect from wealthier nations to poorer. However, Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the world, thus it is unlikely to be able to export its environmental problems.
The reaction in Somalia has been to prohibit charcoal exportation, since it is driving the loss of forests that provide for people and ensure the continuation of groundwater recharge, but also because the charcoal trade is used to fund warlords. Owing to the weakness of the transitional government, it is unlikely that a ban would enforceable. In addition, to tell people that are dependent on a resource for their survival and livelihood to simply stop using it is unreasonable to say the least. People who find themselves in poverty are trying to make it on a day-to-day basis and do not have the luxury of asking what the future holds for them.
In view of this, one may ask what is to be done? People in the government and NGOs say to stop, rebel leaders ask why they should stop, and regular people ask how can they stop? No one seems to ask if what they are doing is the only way or if there might be a better way. I think there is. Instead of cutting down trees in order to make charcoal for cooking, and in some cases heating, why not use methane generated from organic waste instead? Methane can be produced by recycling animal solid wastes and plant residues in anaerobic digestors, a process which is currently being used in some parts of China, India, Latin America, and even here in the US. The equipment neccesary can be purchased for under $200 US, depending on the scale, and be assembled and maintained by local people. The sludge leftover after methane generation can be put through a hot composting method and used as fertilizer. In order for this to be effective in correcting deforestation in Somalia, methane digestors would have to be encouraged in the Gulf States as well to eliminate demand for charcoal altogether.
Helping people build anaerobic digestors would be far cheaper and more effective at curbing deforestation than trying to coerce people to do something they perceive they cannot. It would also show the good faith of governments and NGOs by empowering local people rather than making them more dependent on centralized structures that have historically only marginalized them. Finally, the environment would benefit by a lessened rate of deforestation, and if a program to build anaerobic digestors were coupled with other programs like tree planting and rainwater catchment, many other environmental and social problems could be solved. Our problem lies in thinking that we have discrete problems that can be addressed in a reductionist fashion, but they are all interconnected, and so must be addressed together for there to be real change.
Somalia: Charcoal trade booming despite ban
Biodigestor Construction (Part 1) (Part 2)
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