Photo Of the Day:Charcoal Burning
CLIMATE CHANGE: Women ferry sacks of charcoal to Kotido town for sell. According to the National Forest Authority (NFA), more than 73,000 hectares of private forest are cleared every year across the country and over 7,000ha of protected forest reserves are destroyed annually for timber and charcoal. Without a viable alternative source of energy, it is clear that charcoal and wood fuel will remain the dominant sources of energy for a long haul.
An estimated 95 percent of Ugandans depend on charcoal and wood for cooking. Moreover, Uganda’s rapid population growth, coupled with rapid urbanization, has increased the demand for energy, especially cooking fuel.
Never was the planting of trees more important..
Somehow its not a priority…We are headed for a ditch in plain sight but no one seem to care!
sad… very sad. when it is indeed so very obvious
Is charcoal an export commodity?
Charcoal is not an export commodity in Uganda. Its consumed locally. About 95% Ugandans use charcoal as a primary source of fuel…
Interesting (about it not being an export commodity). That kind of hardwood charcoal (“charwood” as it is referred to in Canada) is considered the only way to BBQ meat, though it is more expensive than what we call “charcoal”. There are entire businesses that make their profit off of selling charwoods from different parts of the world. Being someone who BBQs a lot, I can’t help but notoce the packages of charwood that are imported from a whole host of other countires: many South & Central American countries, from across the USA, and Canada. People buy different types for the unique characteristics that they impart on the food. From an environmental standpoint, there definatley issues to be concerned with. If foresty industries practice regeneration then it is not as much an issue than if they don’t, in which case the environmental degredation can be severe. It is a significant import market in Canada and in the US, and I would bet that it is in parts of Europe as well.
Your photos are fabulous and extraordinary, a real world that few know and walk like you. Thank you for showing us.
And i really appreciate your tireless visits to my blog…It drives me forward…
There should be some green technology, but I guess that is far away. How can forests be protected and then cleared..? Thanks for informing about such an important subject.
Your photos are eye-opening and inspirational. Thankyou..
Thank you so much for visiting my blog…and for kindly leaving a message behind.
Echwalu, thank you for taking us to places and showing us realities. Your photography takes me to places and makes me feel as if I am physically there. Yalama noi noi
Thank you loyce..Am a Kumam though..i would have said, “Apwoyo twatwal”…but am glad you actually know ateso too?
And by the way, Karamoja faces one of the regions at high risk of deforestation. It’s bound to face more hardships probably than other parts of Uganda
tatizo kubwa. Man, i love your photography. Ahsante sana. By the way can you check the word ‘SUCKS’ of charcoal , i think you meant SACKS.
Man, your photos talk volumes and was wondering whether there’re some wet places in Karamoja! Thanx.
Very very isolated! But Karamoja usually floods during raining seasons!
http://www.kibogoji.com has nominated your blog for the sunshine blogger award. Cheers!!