Sierra Leone's reliance on charcoal for cooking, due to limited electricity access, is driving deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
The widespread practice of charcoal burning in Sierra Leone, particularly in Freetown, is leading to significant deforestation and environmental degradation. With only 36% of the population having access to electricity and 15% to clean cooking, charcoal remains a primary energy source for many households. This demand necessitates the cutting of trees, including valuable economic species like orange and mango, leaving land barren and vulnerable to climate change.
Experts from the Environmental Protection Agency acknowledge the severe environmental hazards, noting that the slow regrowth of trees exacerbates the problem. The burning process itself releases substantial greenhouse gases, contributing to air pollution and human health risks. The Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that traditional wood energy accounts for 2-7% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
This environmental strain directly impacts food security as economic trees are destroyed and land is degraded. The Director of Natural Resource Governance highlighted that the continued unsustainable production and use of charcoal could worsen climate change, further affecting forest productivity and future wood-energy supplies.
Why it mattersFarmers are affected as the destruction of economic trees and land degradation threaten food security and agricultural productivity.
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