LPG Handover Ceremonies in Galmudug

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LPG Handover Ceremonies in Galmudug
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LPG Handover Ceremonies in Galmudug

Urban centers, due to high population concentration and non-availability of firewood or any other alternative, are the main consumers of charcoal.Over 98% of the urban households use traditional inefficient charcoal stoves, and most of the rural and nomadic population use firewood and inefficient biomass stoves.

One of the specific objectives of PROSCAL project is to promote alternative sources of energy to reduce local consumption of charcoal. Hence, the activity carried out in Kismayo, Jubaland is part of the components of the project. A team from the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DG and/or Deputy DG of the Directorate, Senior PROSCAL Coordinator and a staff member of the Directorate) travelled to Kismayo, Baidao, Beletwein and Dhuusamareeb to handover.

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LPG Handover Ceremonies in Hirshabelle
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LPG Handover Ceremonies in Hirshabelle

Urban centers, due to high population concentration and non-availability of firewood or any other alternative, are the main consumers of charcoal.Over 98% of the urban households use traditional inefficient charcoal stoves, and most of the rural and nomadic population use firewood and inefficient biomass stoves.

One of the specific objectives of PROSCAL project is to promote alternative sources of energy to reduce local consumption of charcoal. Hence, the activity carried out in Kismayo, Jubaland is part of the components of the project. A team from the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DG and/or Deputy DG of the Directorate, Senior PROSCAL Coordinator and a staff member of the Directorate) travelled to Kismayo, Baidao, Beletwein and Dhuusamareeb to handover.

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LPG Handover Ceremonies in South West State
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LPG Handover Ceremonies in South West State

Urban centers, due to high population concentration and non-availability of firewood or any other alternative, are the main consumers of charcoal.Over 98% of the urban households use traditional inefficient charcoal stoves, and most of the rural and nomadic population use firewood and inefficient biomass stoves.

One of the specific objectives of PROSCAL project is to promote alternative sources of energy to reduce local consumption of charcoal. Hence, the activity carried out in Kismayo, Jubaland is part of the components of the project. A team from the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DG and/or Deputy DG of the Directorate, Senior PROSCAL Coordinator and a staff member of the Directorate) travelled to Kismayo, Baidao, Beletwein and Dhuusamareeb to handover.

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LPG Handover Ceremonies in Jubaland
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LPG Handover Ceremonies in Jubaland

 

Urban centers, due to high population concentration and non-availability of firewood or any other alternative, are the main consumers of charcoal.Over 98% of the urban households use traditional inefficient charcoal stoves, and most of the rural and nomadic population use firewood and inefficient biomass stoves.

One of the specific objectives of PROSCAL project is to promote alternative sources of energy to reduce local consumption of charcoal. Hence, the activity carried out in Kismayo, Jubaland is part of the components of the project. A team from the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DG and/or Deputy DG of the Directorate, Senior PROSCAL Coordinator and a staff member of the Directorate) travelled to Kismayo, Baidao, Beletwein and Dhuusamareeb to handover.

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Vehicles Handover Ceremony December 2016
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Vehicles Handover Ceremony December 2016

Vehicles Handover Ceremony December 2016.

We launched the program in Kismayo, Jubaland State

Climate Change, Charcoal Trade and Armed Conflict in Somalia
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Climate Change, Charcoal Trade and Armed Conflict in Somalia

As a result of frequent droughts, civil war and disrupted livelihoods, pastoralist communities in Somalia increasingly turn to charcoal production as an alternative source of income. Charcoal production in Somalia is not only an important source of deforestation, environmental degradation and communal conflict, but provides also steady revenues for rebel groups such as al Shabaab, who control the distribution of the resource.

CONFLICT HISTORY

Since the 1970s, charcoal is one of Somalia’s principal exports, along with livestock, hides and bananas. Charcoal and firewood are the primary sources of energy for the majority of households in Somalia and charcoal production provides a considerable amount of employment in rural areas (Mohamed, 2001; Ismail, 2011). Despite several attempts to ban charcoal production because of its detrimental environmental effects, the industry has increasingly grown following the collapse of the Somalian state in the 1990s (Baxter, 2007; Gaworecki, 2015). The consequences for the environment are dramatic: Whereas forests represented about 13 percent of Somalia’s land area in 1990, they only covered about 10.7 percent in 2010, with signs for accelerating deforestation rates in recent years (UN, 2011; Bolognesi et al. 2015). But the growth of the industry has also provoked conflicts between woodcutters and rural communities, whose livelihoods are threatened by deforestation and soil erosion, and increased the revenues of armed groups such as al Shabaab (UN, 2011; UNDP, 2013). It has been estimated that al Shabaab earns between $38 and $56 million annually from charcoal exports and $8-$18 million annually from taxing charcoal traders at roadblocks and checkpoints. This makes charcoal one of the group’s main sources of income, but also a matter of conflict with rival rebel groups (Nellemann et al., 2014; Ward, 2014; UCDP, 2015).

Illegal charcoal trade continues despite bans

Charcoal exports have been banned by successive Somalian administrations, including the actual federal government. Yet, high demand for Somalian charcoal in the Gulf States, due to their strict laws on preventing local deforestation, acts as a strong incentive for Somalian traders to continue to export the country’s natural resources. This is further encouraged by the absence of effective government structures in Somalia, who could restrict the activities of woodcutters and charcoal traders (Baxter, 2007; Mohamed, 2012). Forest management and environmental protection is further hampered by unclear property rights regimes: Communal land, which had been nationalised during the military regime of President Siad Barre (1969-1991) became de facto ‘ownerless’ after 1991 and has been exploited since by different communities and armed groups (Mohamed, 2001).

On the supply side, charcoal production has become an important source of income for rural populations affected by environmental hardship, displacement and conflict. Especially in the southern part of the country, increasingly frequent droughts and floods have combined with overgrazing, desertification and soil erosion to deplete pastoralist livelihoods. This dynamic is further accelerated by continuous fighting and mass displacements of rural populations. Left with little alternatives, more and more pastoralists turn to charcoal trading in order to survive, which further exacerbates local communities’ vulnerability to extreme weather events (Mohamed, 2012; Ismail, 2011).

A vicious cycle

Charcoal trading in Somalia does not only contribute to communal tensions and the military activities of rebel groups such as al Shabaab, it is also at the heart of a vicious cycle of environmental degradation, depleted livelihoods and further cutting of trees, accelerated by- and exacerbating the local impacts of climate change. In order to tackle these issues, the federal government, the UN Security Council and other organisation are not only trying to restrict charcoal exports from Somalia, but also to reduce local charcoal consumption and promote alternative livelihoods.

 

Actors

Al Shabaab
Non-State Violent Actor
Internal national
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
Public
External
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Public
Internal national
Conflict Party
Conflict Resolution Facilitator

 

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Alarming deforestation rates in connection with charcoal production already led to the ban of charcoal exports under the Siad Barre regime and also under the rule of General Muhammad Farah Aideed, who exerted control over much of Southern Somalia from 1992 to 1996. However, general Aideed’s son and successor, Hussein Muhammad Aideed, did not impose such restriction, leading to an increase of charcoal production after 1996. The ban was re-imposed in 2000 and has been in effect, albeit poorly enforced, under changing transitional administrations. In 2010 the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia succeeded in diminishing charcoal exports from a number of ports, including Mogadishu and Marka, but the trade continued unabated in ports controlled by Al Shabaab, such as Kismayo (Baxter, 2007; UN Security Council, 2011).

Actions against illegal charcoal exports

In 2012, the United Nations took note of the charcoal trade and its ramifications with the military operations of Al Shabaab. The UN Security Council issued Resolution 2036, urging UN member states, presumably the Gulf States through which the charcoal trade flows, to take the necessary measures to prevent the import of charcoal from Somalia. The same year, Somalian and African Union troops were able to re-capture Kismayo. Yet, according to a group of UN monitors, Somalia’s illegal charcoal trade and corruption have continued unabated, securing a steady income for Al Shabaab (UN Security Council, 2014). In 2014, the UN Security Council issued resolution 2182, which authorises the naval inspection of ships bound for Somalia, in its territorial waters and on the high seas, including the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf (Keatinge, 2014; Yoon & Gridneff, 2014). The success of this measure has yet to be evaluated.

Reducing charcoal consumption and promoting alternative livelihoods

Efforts to ban charcoal exports have been accompanied by programmes aiming at reducing charcoal consumption and promoting alternative livelihoods. UNEP, UNDP and FAO support the Somalian government in a programme led by the Ministry of National Resources to enhance regional cooperation, establish regulatory instruments and enforcement mechanisms, introduce alternative sources of energy, and most importantly, help charcoal producers and traders to find alternative livelihoods. It is estimated that the adoption of more efficient stoves and kilns for charcoal production could result in a total 50% decline in charcoal consumption and 80% decline in wood cutting (UNDP, 2013). These programmes are complemented by the work of numerous grassroots initiatives in the domains of environmental protection, awareness raising and promotion of sustainable livelihoods. Among these, Fatima Jibrell, a female Somalian environmentalist, recently rose to prominence by winning the 2014 UNEP’s Champion of the Earth award for her continuous fight against illegal charcoal trade in Somalia (Hiiraan, 2015).

Remaining challenges

Despite these efforts to curtail the sources of rebel finance and promote sustainable livelihoods in Somalia, there are still major challenges. The effects of Resolution 2182 have yet to materialise. Controlling the inland trade is also difficult. Different sources have revealed the implication of the Kenyan contingent of the African Union Mission in the illegal charcoal trade and profit-sharing agreements with Al Shabaab (allAfrica, 2014; Ward, 2014). Most importantly, Somalia has been lacking a comprehensive framework for environmental protection, resource governance and drought preparedness for many years. Corresponding legislations need revision and more effective enforcement. The ambitious charcoal use reduction programme of the Somalian government and its partners is set to change this. It remains to be seen in how far it will succeed.

 

Resilience and Peace Building

3

Strengthening legislation and law enforcement

After a charcoal ban was imposed in 2000, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia succeeded in diminishing charcoal exports from a number of ports after 2010. However, trade continued unabated in ports controlled by al Shabaab. The UN Security Council issued resolutions urging Gulf States to prevent the import of charcoal from Somalia, and authorised the naval inspection of ships bound for Somalia.

3

Promoting alternative livelihoods

Various international organisations, as well as grassroots initiatives have worked to reduce charcoal consumption and promote alternative livelihoods for charcoal producers.

1

Coping with uncertainty

A comprehensive framework for environmental protection, resource governance and drought preparedness would help address socio-environmental challenges in Somalia.

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International Conference
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International Conference

Somalia calls for international cooperation to stop illegal charcoal trade

Mogadishu, 7 May 2018 – At the opening of a two-day, UN-supported conference on charcoal in Mogadishu, the Federal Government of Somalia has called for international, African and Gulf States cooperation in halting the illegal export of charcoal from the country. The export of charcoal from Somalia has been banned, both by a 2012 United Nations Security Council resolution and by the Somali Government, due to its destructive effect on the environment and its exacerbation of conflict and humanitarian crises.

An estimated 8.2 million trees were cut down for charcoal in Somalia between 2011 and 2017, increasing land degradation, food insecurity and vulnerability to flooding and drought. Over 80 percent of charcoal produced in Somalia is exported to Gulf States and neighbouring countries. Illegal trade in charcoal is recognised as a key contributor to insecurity in Somalia, providing a major source of funding for militias, terrorist groups, and other actors linked to conflict, who illegally tax exports.

In his opening address, the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, reaffirmed the Somali government’s commitment to halting illegal trade of charcoal, and providing alternative livelihood and energy options. He also called for urgent action and support from the international community and countries that are importing charcoal.

“We need a holistic response to address the issues of charcoal in Somalia. Both the demand and supply side have to be tackled – to do this we need cooperation to implement the UN Security Council Resolution and ensure the environmental, economic and human losses that happen because of illegal charcoal trade are curbed,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

“The environmental destruction brought on by the charcoal trade contributes to drought, flooding, the loss of livelihoods and increase in food insecurity. Together with conflict, this exacerbates the humanitarian situation in Somalia,” said the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Peter de Clercq. “But due to high levels of poverty in Somalia and lack of opportunities, many are forced to turn to unsustainable and illegal livelihoods, such as charcoal production. The people of this country deserve better”.

Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, UN Environment Regional Director for Africa, said regional partnership is key to stopping the unsustainable production, use and export of charcoal in Somalia. “UN Environment and its partners are supporting the Government of Somalia to develop sound policy frameworks to support the ban and find alternatives to charcoal,” she said.

Participants at the event, which concludes on Tuesday 8 May, are expected to develop a concrete road map for action, including enforceable regional policies, to halt charcoal trade, as well as its unsustainable production and use within Somalia. The high-level summit is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment, and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), with funding from Sweden, the European Union and Italy.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About UN Environment:

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organisations across the world.

For more information, please contact:
Abdulkani R Barrow , Advisor to the Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range and the Office of the Prime Minister. Email: abdulkanirage[at]gmail.com

Abdul Qadir, Manager, Climate Change and Resilience Portfolio, a.i., United Nations Development Programme Somalia. Email: abdul.qadir[at]undp.org

Keelin FitzGerald, Communications Specialist, United Nations Development Programme Somalia. Email: keelin.fitzgerald[at]undp.org

Mohamed Atani, Regional Information Officer, Africa Office, UN Environment. Email: mohamed.atani[at]un.org

Chi Lael, Communications Specialist, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nation.Email: Chi.Lael[at]fao.org

International Conference on Charcoal
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International Conference on Charcoal

DESCRIPTION
STORY: SOMALIA / CHARCOAL CONFERENCE
TRT: 03:29
SOURCE: UNSOM
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SOMALI / NATS

DATELINE: 07 MAY 2018, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOTLIST
07 MAY 2018, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

1. Wide shot, Conference on Illegal Charcoal Trade in Somalia
2. Med shot, Guled and de Clercq at conference
3. Close up, participant reading document
4. Med shot, participants listening
5. Pan left, participants at conference
6. Med shot, de Clercq taking notes
7. Med shot, participants