Towards sustainable production and use of charcoal in Kenya: exploring the potential in life cycle management approach

Kituyi, Evans

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2004.02.011

Cited by 30 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…For example, in the southern African region, miombo (savanna) woodlands are economically important for the supply of timber, poles, firewood, charcoal, medicines, food, fiber, and carvings (Chidumayo 1988, Luoga et al 2000, SADC 1993). They are the major source of energy (fuelwood) for a high percentage of Sub-Saharan African households (Hofstand 1996, Kituyi 2004, Luoga et al 2002, and serve as sources of food and medicine for many natural resource-dependent households.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnobotanical Survey of Woody Plants in Shorobe and Xobe Villages, Northwest Region of Botswana

Neelo¹,

Kashe²,

Teketay

et al. 2015

Ethnobot. Res. App.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnobotanical Survey of Woody Plants in Shorobe and Xobe Villages, Northwest Region of Botswana

Neelo¹,

Kashe²,

Teketay

et al. 2015

Ethnobot. Res. App.

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“…Wood collection is predominantly a task for women and children, especially girls [4,81,82]. If fuelwood becomes scarcer, the collection time, distance walked and frequency of collection increases [82].…”

Section: Problems Of Traditional Biomass Uses Are Gender-and Child-rementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This time-consuming and exhausting task has a high opportunity cost. With increasing fuelwood shortages or increasing distances to fuelwood stocks, children are withdrawn from school in order to collect firewood, reducing their literacy and restricting their economic opportunities [12,81].…”

Section: Problems Of Traditional Biomass Uses Are Gender-and Child-rementioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing the sustainability of household cooking in developing countries: Policy implications

Maes

Verbist

2012

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

109

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Although 40% of the global population relies on traditional biomass use, mainly firewood and charcoal, for cooking, traditional biomass has received very little attention in the current biomass debate, because of its considered primitive and unsustainable nature. In this review, we discuss how the sustainability of household cooking in developing countries can be improved.Indoor air pollution due to incomplete combustion of traditional biomass causes the death of 1.45 million people every year, mainly of women and children, who also carry the heavy burden of fuelwood collection. In addition, charcoal production and combustion is responsible for very high greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy. On the other hand, fuelwood production and trade is of vital importance for local economies and serves as safety net for the poorest people. Moreover, fuelwood collection is not a driver of deforestation and global fuelwood shortage will not occur, despite local problems of fuelwood provision.There are two distinct policy alternatives to increase the sustainability of cooking in developing countries. The first option is to climb the energy ladder and to switch from solid fuels to fossil fuels (LPG or kerosene), biogas or electricity. As this largely avoids the severe health damages of traditional biomass use, this option is considered the most desirable by numerous countries and by international organizations. However, as most developing countries are far away from meeting the necessary requirements, related to infrastructure, economics and local culture, expecting a large-scale switch to liquid fuels or electricity is unrealistic.In that case, the second policy option, increasing the sustainability of the current traditional biomass system, must be considered. This can be realized by an integrated approach, in which national and regional fuelwood policies are adapted, improved systems for charcoal production are implied and improved stoves, in combination with chimneys, are distributed.

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“…Awareness will not only save the forest but will also enhance environmental services like water purification, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) sequestration, clean air [reduced emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)] like carbon dioxide and methane, nutrients cycling and provision of food, fodder and other materials necessary for human wellbeing. Population awareness on environmental effects of charcoal production can contribute positively to adoption of cheaper and cleaner energy sources like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Electricity (Kituyi, 2004;Mohammed et al, 2013). These energy sources are low in CO 2 emissions -a critical characteristic of a green economy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Consumer Awareness on Environmental Effects of Charcoal Production and Use in Nairobi City, Kenya

2016

IJSR

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This study investigated the awareness of the urban population on the effects of charcoal production and use on the environment. Specifically, the study evaluated the charcoal production techniques in Kenya, identified the different types of cooking stoves used and cooking environments adopted by charcoal users as well as investigated the level of awareness of the population of Nairobi on the effects of charcoal production and use on environmental degradation. Survey research design was used in this study involving the use of semi-structured questionnaire, with a target of 100 respondents (20 large scale charcoal traders and 80 charcoal users) sampled through person-to-person interview, selected using purposive/systematic random sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistical data techniques were used to analyze the field data in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (Version 20). The findings of this study revealed traditional charcoal production techniques to be high (100%) among producers supplying Nairobi city. Significant low level (<50%) awareness by charcoal users and traders on the negative effects of charcoal production to the environment was also noted. Most users (93%) do not use energy conserving stoves for their cooking and heating activities. This is a big challenge to the highly predicted forest cover depletion, which is affecting the rooting of a green economy in Kenya. The findings reveal charcoal production as the main energy source, coupled with low awareness on environmental impacts by the producers and users. Biodiversity loss and reduced water cycling was poorly pointed as other environmental effects from deforestation from charcoal. This calls for urgent need on public awareness on energy saving technologies on charcoal production and use, government legislations on charcoal production with focus on reforestation and afforestation to be reinforced nation-wide if Kenya hopes to transition to a sustainable green economy within its vision 2030 agenda. Mechanisms to allow access to green energy sources by the government are also urgently needed to reduce reliance on charcoal. The findings suggest the need for mitigation measures in order to minimize environmental impacts at local, national and global levels from charcoal production and use. The environment and particularly the forest is a major aspect in the drive towards sustainable development and therefore adopting a policy framework that protects the forest from uncontrolled charcoal production and use is imperative.

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Towards sustainable production and use of charcoal in Kenya: exploring the potential in life cycle management approach

Cited by 30 publications

References 5 publications

Ethnobotanical Survey of Woody Plants in Shorobe and Xobe Villages, Northwest Region of Botswana

Ethnobotanical Survey of Woody Plants in Shorobe and Xobe Villages, Northwest Region of Botswana

Increasing the sustainability of household cooking in developing countries: Policy implications

Assessment of Consumer Awareness on Environmental Effects of Charcoal Production and Use in Nairobi City, Kenya

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