Socio-Economic Effects of Pro sop is Charcoal Production and Marketing: The Case of Gewane Woreda, Mar 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 ajfecting the livelihood of pastoral communities in 'Galeila Dora' Kebele
Administration, Gewane Werecla, Afar Regional State. The study focused on how the local communities
respond to the negative effects of charcoal production ji'om indigenous trees. Household surveys, jocus
group discussion, and key informant interviews were made to collect some valuable data and
information relevant for this study. Besides, observation was also made to verify what has been
actually happening to the prosopis and indigenous trees in the study sites. The results reveal that the
benefits and profits oblained ji'om charcoal production ./i'om prosopis tree, which was formally
initiated in this area, aUracted the interest of local communities, manage to improve the stat liS of their
livelihoodfitrlher allracted by this business which later II.Irned their face to the illegal clilting and
burning of indigenous trees for beller incomes ./i'om the sale of charcoals of high quality and highly
demanded by the consumers in urban areas. As time goes on, the illegal CUlling of indigenous tree
currently reached an alarming stage requiring corrective action to be taken. Owing to this fact; this
study suggested that the regional and local government ojficials need to design systernatiG approaches
on how to manage the indigenous trees. Moreover, taking legal action on charcoal producers ./i'om
legally prohibited indigenous trees other than the permitted prosopis tree is urgently needed.
Therefore, all government offiCials at all levels of administration need to discharge their political
commitment in close consu/lalion with the local coml11unities in ensunOng to encollnter the aggressive
removal ofindigenous tree b40re their complete destrllction
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Keywords
Prosopis charcoa l production