PART 2: ‘BUIDLING BLOCKS’ OF THE CHARCOAL VALUE CHAIN
Policy Gap and Challenges That the government has considerable understanding of the challenges of deforestation and the economic consequences of depleting forest reserves can be observed by the various programmes driven by the Forest Commission (FC), such as the Community Forest Management Project, the Forest Preservation Programme, and the recent Forest Investment Programme. However, the country lacks up-to-date data on forest cover and annual deforestation rates, types of wood species and related matters. Interviews between the author and the FC indicate that forest-related information based on satellite tracking can greatly improve the quality of forest data. Current forest data are computed over a 10-year cycle with limited information on private forest land. A Sustainable Charcoal NAMA can tackle deforestation through sustainable woodlot management and implement policies and programmes that encourage rural population and government to invest in forestry programmes. Forestry policies therefore need to address: Land-use conversion to agriculture: A growing population will require additional land to be brought under cultivation with food crops such as maize, rice, millet, sorghum, cassava, yam, cocoyam, plantain, groundnuts, and soybeans. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture notes that the country currently produces about half of its cereal and meat needs and less than one-third of the raw materials for its agro-based industries. But the main source of deforestation from land-use conversion is likely to be the production of cocoa, of which Ghana is the world’s second largest producer. The timber industry and demand for wood fuel: The general policy direction adopted in Ghana has focused on reducing the country’s dependence on charcoal due to its high environmental impact. While afforestation and reforestation are being encouraged through initiatives such as the NFPDP and more recently the FIP, the focus is on the economically lucrative timber industry. Unorganized urban growth: The lack of sufficient opportunities in rural areas is the primary cause for urbanization. Unplanned urban development results in unorganized urban sprawls, poor drainage, limited access to water, poorly built housing in limited space, and an energy crunch. This leads the newly migrating population to use neighbouring forest resources for building materials, food and energy supply, and leading to additional deforestation. Mining and minerals: Ghana’s mineral exports are dominated by gold and Ghana ranks among the top 10 producers of gold. Apart from gold, the mining industry in Ghana produces bauxite, manganese and diamonds through a handful of large-scale and 300 registered small-scale mining companies. Most mines are open-pit, which results in significant levels of deforestation.
4.3. Carbonization Carbonization refers to the process where wood is converted into charcoal under controlled combustion. The process typically involves the following steps: •
Preparation of the wood—2-5 days: Once the wood has been cut and collected, it is laid out, usually in the open sun, to dry and reduce its moisture content.
NAMA STUDY FOR A SUSTAINABLE CHARCOAL VALUE CHAIN IN GHANA
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