Analysis of charcoal production with recent developments in Sub-Sahara Africa: a review
Eric Mensah Kumeh, Lawrence Damnyag, Nketiah Samuel Kwabena
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.