WOODFUEL EXTRACTION AND UTILIZATION; A CARBON

EMISSION CONDUIT IN EJURA-SEKYEDUMASE DISTRICT

GHANA

Divine Odame Appiah and Isaac Anokye Boateng

Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,

Kumasi

GHANA GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE 2011

UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, WA CAMPUS

3RD TO 6TH August, 2011

Introduction Problem in contextProfile of study areaMethodologyResults and discussionsConclusionsRecommendation

Presentation outline

Woodfuel is fuel obtained: wood or tree species such as timber, shrubs etc. which may be available as firewood, logs, pallets, charcoal and many others (Ireland et al, 2009)

Globally, >65% of total woodfuel consumption is accounted for by Asia and Africa (UNDP, 2000).

Extraction of woodfuel in developing regions like Africa is among key factors of tropical deforestation due to woodfuel demand for household and commercial use

Introduction

Mensah and Agyare (1994) similarly expressed that the energy needs of Ghana like that of many developing countries are heavily dependent on woodfuel.

The demand for woodfuel for both commercial and household use has contributed to over exploitation of the forest and the environment as well

We examined the effects of woodfuel extraction on forest ecology and the environment in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District.

Introduction cont.

Fifty-three (53%) of the farmers are also engaged in woodfuel production on commercial and subsistence basis.

Excessive extraction of wood for fuelwood and also charcoal production together =>deleterious effects on vegetation and climate

Methods of farming :slash and burn; bush fires == original vegetation, replaced by secondary vegetation.

The Problem in context

With increasing population, the pressure on wood resources and rate of deforestation is alarming (Basel, 2008; Nabuura et al., 2007).

Kaser et al., (2004) argue that the link between deforestation and aridity due to atmospheric warming.

Is well documented (Idso, & Kimball, 1994; Houghton, & Hackler, 2002 and Pinter et al, 1996)

Problem cont.

With DCECC…the earth system could eventually pass a critical threshold beyond which life forms might not be able to survive.

Threat to MDG 7, target 2 reducing loss of Biodiversity

The concern is…green-house effect is highlighted as a result of intensive ‘charcoaling’ which releases carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere.

Howden (2007) supports with the idea that excessive cutting of trees from forest areas leads to deforestation

Deforestation, Carbon Emission and Climate Change

There has been broad consensus that the approach “reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation” (REDD), should be a prominent feature of any international climate change agreement that extends or replaces the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.

However, progress has been much slower than anticipated

The Bali Action Plan agreed at the 2007 UNFCCC conference endorsed the vision of an environment in which the forests have greater value standing than cut down.

It initiated studies into “positive incentives” for developing countries – the provision of financial compensation in return for measurable reduction in deforestation.

Carved out of the then Sekyere and Offinso districts.

It is location: Long. 1˚5W and 1˚39’ W and Lat. 7˚9’ N and 7˚36’N. Northern part of Ashanti Region

Bounded to the: ◦ North by Nkoranza and Atebubu districts (both in

Brong Ahafo Region), ◦ West by Offinso district, ◦ East by Sekyere East district and ◦ South by Afigya-Sekyere district.

Profile of study area

It has a large land size of about 1,782.2 sq. km and is 7.3% of the region’s total land area

The fifth largest among the districts in Ashanti Region.

Ejura is considered as the district capital.

Vegetation is in transitional zone of the semi-deciduous forest and Guinea savanna zones

Average Annual rainfall is 1,300mm Relative humidity is 75%-80%

Map of the study district

Both quantitative and qualitative research design, used primary data and secondary info.

Sampling design: ◦ Probability simple random technique for 10/170

Adiembra, Ebuom Bayere, Nkwanta, Homako, Nyamebekyere, Ejura,

◦ Babaso, Kyenkyenkura, Sekyedumase and Doku Akuraa.

◦ 150 household respondents of different socio-economic background, and purposively biased towards charcoal producers out of a popx of 81,115

Survey instruments: ◦ Partially Pre-Coded HH Questionnaire,◦ Key Informants Interviews with ESDA, FSD & EPA

Methodology

Conceptual FrameworkUnderlying/Indirect

causes·Rapid Population growth·Poverty·Demand for fuelwood Deforestation in Ejura-

Sekyedumase

Immediate/Direct Causes

·Timber production·Agricultural activities·Woodfuel Production·Bush Fires

Socio-economic effects

·Low agric production and food·Shortage of drinking water·Loss of medicinal plants·Diseases

Ecological effects·Climate Change· Drying up of water

bodies· Soil erosion and

silting· Biodiversity loss

Sources of energy for household/commercial uses: 53.3% use firewood, 44.7% use charcoal, 2% (3) use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

These constituted main sources of energy for cooking and heating purposes in the area.

Reason for choice of source :◦ 78% wood is very affordable and easily available,

It may be cheap now, but continuous use would prove expensive in the long run

Results and Discussions

Sources of Wood for Fuelwood and Charcoal Production.

Results and Discussions

Trees species for Fuelwood and Charcoal

ScientificName

Local Name Number of respondents

Per cent (%)

Anogeissus Leiocarpus

Kane 25 16.67

Erythropleum invoreise

Potrodom 14 9.33

Terminalia aviceniodes

Ongo 30 20

Afzelia Africana Papao 12 8

Khaya spp Mahogany 22 14.67

Mangifera indica Mango tree 17 11.33

Albizia julibrissin Acacia tree 13 8.67

Triplochiton scleroxylon

Wawa 17 11.33

TOTAL 150 100

Relationship b/n Deforestation and carbon-dioxide emission climate change SINK-SOURCE

Deforestations and carbon emission has

several other environmental consequences

Sought to also find out perception of effects of deforestation on environment

The Carbon-dioxide emission conduit

Respondents’ knowledge of climate change

33%

31%

23%

12%

Not attended PrimaryJ HS S H and above

Education background of respondents

As a charcoal producing area, Al Gore (2006) emphasizes that almost 30% of the carbon-dioxide released into the atmosphere each year is a result of ◦burning of bush land for subsistence

agriculture and ◦woodfuel used for cooking; including

Charcoal.

Accordingly, Howden, 2007 explains that carbon emissions from deforestation far outstrip damage caused by planes and automobiles and factories.

A Charcoal producer busily extracting wood

The mound kiln of charcoal burning

Effect of woodfuel extraction on

the soil

With the effort to get employed, generate income to supplement agriculture, woodfuel extraction

Several problems to the forest and the local environment. Carbon emissions, Soil erosion, deforestation, and bush fires

Considered as the main effects on the forest environment and consequently on global warming and climate change in Ejura-Sekyedumase district.

Conclusions

Wood for fuel was mainly from the fallow lands (farmlands), off-forest resources and the forest resources.

Woodfuel extraction were in the hands of most rural populace found in the district of Ejura-Sekyedumase.

DAs in partnership with Academia should disseminated knowledge on climate change in the district

FC, through appropriate dept (FSD) should promote REDD with FORIG; TROPENBOS etc.

NGOs and the Assembly should provide alternative livelihoods to agriculture that would reduce considerably charcoal prodn.

Further research on quantities of Carbon emissions and rates of deforestation is recommended

The Way Forward??

Al Gore, 2005. An inconvenient truth: the planetary emergency of global warming and what we can do about it, Rodale books, 2006.

FAO (2006), Global forest Resource Assessment (2005), FAO forestry papers 147 and 140, Rome.

Howden, D. (2007) Deforestation: The hidden causes of global warming, U.K

Ireland, D., Andy, H., and David H. J (2009): Forest Research (Woodfuel Information Pack), U.K.

Some of References

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION