Charcoal Production, Livelihoods and Regulatory Frameworks in Middle Shabelle Region, Somalia

The study assessed the practices of charcoal production, its contribution to livelihoods, and the effectiveness of the existing regulatory frameworks in Middle Shabelle Region, Somalia. The descriptive survey design was applied, where data was collected from 360 respondents in Adalle and Bal'ad districts. Data analysis techniques included descriptive statistics, chi-square test, one-way ANOVA. It is observed that the charcoal production is the main livelihood practice, with 91.1% of households relying on it as the main source of livelihood. Earth kiln production technology (81.4%) and Acacia trees (83.6%) dominated in production systems. Although the production process had significantly increased the quality of life and provided employment, it also significantly contributed to the degradation of the land and forest resources. The regulatory systems were identified to be ineffective because of lack of enforcement, lack of licensing requirements, and lack of training on sustainable production practices. The education level, awareness of the regulation, and period of engagement were significant predictors of the participation in sustainable production training programs. Thus, the charcoal production is a livelihood support and an environmental problem simultaneously.