The economic importance of charcoal to rural livelihoods: Evidence from a key charcoal-producing area in Ghana

Brobbey, Lawrence Kwabena; Hansen, Christian; Kyereh, Boateng; Pouliot, Mariève

doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2019.01.013

Cited by 35 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Overexploitation of the resource and destructive or unsustainable harvesting practices can occur at all levels of commercialization, although the latter was more present in the lower commercialized categories (low: 20%, med-A: 36%, med-B: 10%, and high: 11% of studies, respectively). Lack of resources in the wild gives a strong incentive for cultivation and sustainable management practices, particularly in cases of strong demand for the product in question, as seen in a number of cases for more highly commercialized NTFPs, such as charcoal production [138][139][140], juçara berries [99], agar oil production [152,154], chamaedorea palms [130], bamboo products [125], and jernang production [149].…”

Section: Differentiation Depending On Level Of Commercialisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Processing of Non-Timber Forest Products through Small and Medium Enterprises—A Review of Enabling and Constraining Factors

Meinhold

Darr

2019

Forests

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Research Highlights: This study reviews the available literature on processed non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in order to comprehensively identify relevant factors enabling or constraining their potential to contribute to rural development. Background and Objectives: NTFPs, such as wild foods, medicinal plants, and raw materials for handicrafts, make significant contributions to rural livelihoods. NTFPs can help fulfil households' subsistence and consumption needs, serve as a safety-net in times of crises, and provide cash income. In particular, the processing of NTFPs has often been suggested to positively influence sustainable economic development in rural areas. However, despite rising interest and recognition of the potential contributions of such industries as key sources of employment and their strategic role in overall growth strategies of developing countries, many NTFP processing enterprises remain in the informal sector and an in-depth understanding of the underlying factors is lacking. This review aims to identify enabling and constraining factors affecting NTFP processing enterprises. Materials and Methods: Using systematic review methodology, studies investigating commercialized, processed NTFPs and their economic impacts have been identified and the current evidence base with regard to NTFP processing and small and medium sized enterprise (SME) development synthesized. Results: Despite the diverse nature of NTFPs, a number of constraining and enabling factors affecting NTFP processing and commercialization were identified. The former includes aspects such as the lack of resource access (finances, skills, technologies, etc.), market information, and basic infrastructure; the latter, amongst others, the role of key entrepreneurs; and cooperation across the value chain, amongst producers, and among members of the institutional environment or an abundant resource base. Moving from small-scale NTFP commercialization in local markets to more mature NTFP value chains reaching export markets, the increasing role of cooperation and having a supportive institutional framework in place, becomes apparent. Conclusions: Overall, successful NTFP processing strongly depends on the socio-economic and environmental context in question, requiring a holistic approach tailored to the respective context and value chain.

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Section: Differentiation Depending On Level Of Commercialisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Processing of Non-Timber Forest Products through Small and Medium Enterprises—A Review of Enabling and Constraining Factors

Meinhold

Darr

2019

Forests

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“…If the income from agriculture, livestock and selling labour is less than the target minimum income for the year, a decision on the amount of aspired charcoal income and the quantity to be produced is made. Charcoal making is an important household diversification and income gap filler strategy in many rural sub-Saharan Africa households (Smith et al, 2017;Brobbey et al, 2019). If an agent is not able to reach a sufficient woodland area to harvest charcoal (within the rules set for the agent type) leading to less income than aimed for in 3 consecutive years, the agent is assumed to stop engaging in charcoal production and exits the model.…”

Section: Charcoal Maker Identification and Decision Making Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable woodland management and livelihood options in a charcoal producing region: An agent-based modelling approach

Kiruki

Zanden

Zagaria

et al. 2019

Journal of Environmental Management

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“…In the last two decades, interest has been on the contributions of forests to household income, welfare and local employment in rural communities (Arnold & Townson, 1998;Byron & Arnold, 1999;McSweeney, 2004) spanning multiple perspectives, such as political ecology and resource management. However, investigations on the rural households' dependence on forests are now emerging for developing countries (Adhikari et al, 2004;Brobbey et al, 2019;Cavendish, 2000Cavendish, , 2002Chilongo, 2014;Dash & Behera, 2016;Fisher, 2004;Mamo et al, 2007;Vedeld et al, 2004). In Ghana, for instance, the very few studies on communities' use of forest resources (Amanor, 1999;Appiah et al, 2009;Brobbey et al, 2019;Falconer, 1992;Wiggins et al, 2004) tend to focus on the contribution of forests to the livelihood strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Dependence among Rural Households in Southern Ghana: Implications for Conservation and Poverty Reduction

Mantey

Teye

2021

Ghana J. Geography

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While it is widely acknowledged that an understanding of the determinants of rural households’ forest extraction and dependence on forest resources is important for policies on forest conservation and rural development, the factors that determine Ghanaian households’ dependence on forests are neither adequately explored nor well-understood. Against this background, this paper examines the extraction and dependence on forest resources among rural households in the forest communities of Southern Ghana. Data were collected through a household livelihood survey and in-depth interviews in two forest communities. Regression models were then used to investigate key factors that condition the households' dependence on forests in the study communities. The findings indicate that almost all households are engaged in forest extraction. The average overall contribution of forests to household income in the study communities was 21 percent and constituted the third largest contributor to household income following crop income and non-farm income. The findings also indicate that forests also play an essential safety net role in the face of unforeseen income shortfalls and ultimately, in poverty alleviation. The results further reveal that the rural household's extraction of forest resources and consequently its dependence on forests (livelihood strategy) are a function of its access to other livelihood assets, its vulnerability context as well as other context variables. Recommended policy interventions for forest conservation and sustainable rural development include securing the natural resource base, broadening poor people's livelihood options and improving access to education in rural communities.

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The economic importance of charcoal to rural livelihoods: Evidence from a key charcoal-producing area in Ghana

Cited by 35 publications

References 29 publications

The Processing of Non-Timber Forest Products through Small and Medium Enterprises—A Review of Enabling and Constraining Factors

The Processing of Non-Timber Forest Products through Small and Medium Enterprises—A Review of Enabling and Constraining Factors

Sustainable woodland management and livelihood options in a charcoal producing region: An agent-based modelling approach

Forest Dependence among Rural Households in Southern Ghana: Implications for Conservation and Poverty Reduction

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