SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CHARCOAL PRODUCTION IN THE CASE OF MERAWI (MECHA) WORED

Abstract

Charcoal production has far-reaching impacts extending across a range of social and environmental issues. These include health problems of charcoal producer associated with air pollution, environmental change associated with greenhouse gas emissions. The study aimed to investigate the social and environmental impacts of charcoal production in mecha/merawi woreda. Data were collected from 120 charcoal producers to get real and reliable data, and 10 concerned government officials selected using census sampling techniques, which means the researcher selects all charcoal producers in the study area. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis were used for the study. Descriptive statistics such as percentage, tables and graphs were used for further analysis quantitative data. Besides qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study revealed that participation in charcoal production increases additional income of households. The study also indicated that the charcoal has positive impact to save human energy during cooking, removes smoking during cooking and save time during cooking. Although charcoal production has positive impact it has also side effects such as health effects such as respiratory disease, headache, cough, sputum production, dyspnea and hemoptysis to the producers and the residents of the production area. Besides it is causing of deforestation soil erosion ,environmental pollution in the study area. The descriptive statistics result showed that the reason of engaged on production of charcoal were for additional income The major type of tree which used for charcoal production was human planted trees especially eucalyptus tree and its methods of production was 100% traditional and produced mostly around the source area. Most producers of charcoal were farmers and they produce illegal case. The result confirmed that concerned government officials did not follow up the production of charcoal continuously this may increases the negative impacts of charcoal productions such as it affects the health of the society and degrades the environment. The study recommended that regional and local government should give higher emphasis to rural farmers charcoal production to minimize its negative impact and traditional system of production should be substituted with modern production methods.