FUELWOOD TO CHARCOAL PRODUCTION IN THE NEW JUABEN MUNICIPALITY OF THE EASTERN REGION OF GHANA CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SEEKING LIVELIHOOD
Keywords:
Fuelwood, charcoal, new juaben municipality, challenges, opportunitiesAbstract
Excessive utilization of forest resources like fuelwood for charcoal production is a perturbing occurrence in the New Juaben Municipality. Using the case of New Juaben Municipality, this study looked at the opportunities and challenges of charcoal production in this area of Ghana. The researchers used both structured and unstructured questionnaires to collect data from the commercial producers and simple regression analysis undertaken. The study revealed that charcoal production is an income generating activity, although it presents dismal environmental consequences to forested resources. Although commercial charcoal production has been perceived to be harmful to the environment, closing the industry is challenged by its role in employment creation and the provision of household income. The charcoal activity provides an average monthly income of GH¢50 per producer in the study area. Live trees, essential for the sustenance of lives are preferred over dead trees by charcoal producers because they produce quality charcoal. To achieve a weighing scale between forest protection and livelihood sustainability, there is the need for the adoption of efficient and appropriate technologies and strategies like the mobile metal kiln method for charcoal burning. The excessive cutting of tree species for charcoal has brought about unpleasant ecological outcomes. The method applied by charcoal producers thus, traditional earth method frequently brings about bush fires, causing rigorous harms to the already suffering vegetation.
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References
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