Socio-Economic Effects of Prosopis Charcoal Production and Marketing: The Case of Gewane Woreda, Afar Region
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main purpose of this research is to understand how and to what extent charcoal production and
trade has been affecting the livelihood of pastoral communities in 'Galeila Dora' Kebele
Administration, Gewane Wereda, Afar Regional State. The study focused on how the local coml'nunities
respond to the negative effects of charcoal production Fom indigenous trees. Household surveys, focus
group discussion, and key informant interviews were made to collect some valuable data and
information relevant for this sludy. Besides, observation was also made to verify what has been
actually happening to Ihe prosopis and indigenous trees in Ihe sludy siles. The resulls reveal that Ihe
benefits and profils obtained ji-om charcoal produclion ji-om prosopis tree, which was formally
initiated in this area, allracled the in/eresl of local communities, manage /0 improve the sla/lis of/heir
livelihood!urlher allracled by this business which laler turned their face 10 the illegal CUlling and
burning of indigenous trees for beller incomes ji-am Ihe sale 0/ charcoals of high qualily and highly
demanded by the consumers in urban areas. As lillie goes on, the illegal culting 0/ indigenous Iree
currently reached an alarming stage requiring corrective action 10 be laken. Owing 10 Ihis fOCI; Ihis
study suggesled 11701 Ihe regional and local governmenl officials need to design syslemalic approaches
on how to manage the indigenous Irees. Moreover, laking legal aclion on charcoal praducers ji-om
legally prohibited indigenous Irees olher than the permitted prosopis Iree is urgently needed.
Therefore, all government officials at all levels of adminislration need 10 discharge Iheir polilical
commitment in close conslillation with the local communities in ensuring /0 encounter {he aggressive
removal of indigenous Iree belore their complete destruction.
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Keywords
Socio economic impact of Prosopis charcoal production