Analysis of charcoal production with recent developments in Sub-Sahara Africa: a review

ABSTRACT

The paper reviews the state of charcoal production in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 65% of the world’s charcoal is produced. Charcoal production is dominated by smallholders who use wood from unsustainable sources and inefficient carbonization techniques, leading to ecosystem degradation. Meanwhile, the demand for charcoal is rising in the region, leading to attempts by governments to formalize the sector; including enabling investments from large-scale companies. It is unclear, however, how the formalization tackles challenges at the grassroots. For the charcoal sector to transition toward sustainability, the paper highlights the need for integrated approaches, preferably, under ‘carbon-neutral charcoal’ slogan.

KEYWORDS:

• Charcoal
• deforestation
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• sustainability
• rural development

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kumeh Eric Mensah

Eric Mensah Kumeh is a DAAD Scholar and PhD candidate at the University of Hohenheim. His research focuses on agro-commodities, landscape approaches, political ecology, environmental justice and rural development.

Lawrence Damnyag

Lawrence Damnyag is Principal Research Scientist at the CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana. He works on forest economics, plantation forestry, REDD+ and rural livelihoods.

Nketiah Samuel Kwabena

Samuel Kwabena Nketiah is a forest governance specialist and an independent consultant. His research interests are REDD+, FLEGT/VPA, on charcoal value chains and plantation forestry.