Charcoal provides 82% of urban and 34% of rural domestic energy. This industry represents an estimated annual market value of Kshs. 23 billion with only a sith of this value being channeled back to the producing rural communities. Of Kenya's total land area of 57.6 million hectares 84% is arid and semi arid (ASAL). with only 1.7% of the country being covered with closed forest, it is estimated that over 75% of the 2.4 million tons of charcoal used in the country is unsustainably harvested from the arid and semi arid lands. As a result of the observed disastrous environmental degradation of forests, woodlands and rangelands in the ASALS, as well as the unsuitable national energy cosumption, Danida's ASP-MEDP-MFII and RELMA have found it necessary to address this problem by considering how sustainable charcoal production and marketing systems can become an intergrated part of their project activities and hence contribute to improved livelihoods of the target communities.
Publication year
2003
Language
English
Keywords
charcoal, marketing, policies, production, environmental impact
Geographic
Kenya
