DEFORESTATIONS IN SOMALIA
Deforestation and charcoal export to Middle East countries is one of the major causes of environmental degradation in Somalia. In recent years, illegal cutting of trees to produce charcoal for export has become a booming business industry with considerable profits. Most of the charcoal is prepared in southern Somalia and exported through the ports in Mogadishu and Kismayo. Lack of local administration in the southern regions has exacerbated the problem. North of Somalia and North east of Somalia also experienced the same problem, but to a lesser extent. As a result of deforestation, land suitable for grazing is destroyed. This practice will inevitably affect the nomadic communities who entirely depend on grazing. Some of the most visible results of this action are extinction of wildlife and endangered crop species, soil erosion, soil degradation and an irreversible long term impact on agricultural ecosystems .
During the recent, Somalia has faced a new type of business which is cutting down of trees to produce charcoal for export to the Gulf States, in order to maintain the operation local businessmen introduced a new technology which includes battery powered chain saws for cutting the forest.
The local businessmen cut down trees, which are then burned and brought by trucks for export from all major ports in the country. These selfish businessmen encouraged poor rural people to cut down any tree for preparing charcoal for export by supplying saw machinery and they export to U.A.E, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, charcoal exported from Somalia is used in the houses of the Arab countries for luxuries and more than 80% of the trees used for charcoal are types of Acacia bussei, locally named (Galol) and it is the most dominant species in semi-arid and can be found range lands, Acacia bussei is the best tree species for charcoal production and charcoal produced from Acacia bussei has exceptional strength, Acacia bussei has many advantages for rural people in Somalia and it is most important tree for the rural people. It is made of movable houses, mats and ropes.
The leaves and young branches are browsed by lifestock, it is also an excellent hardwood which is suitable for firewood as well as charcoal. So, large scale commercial production of cutting down Acacia bussei is taking place in Somalia which may resulting this special tree becoming extinct in the coming years.
There is also other species which are used for charcoal consumption as well as firewood, but in far smaller quantities.
Presently, the people are experiencing the following problems:
The following are the common plants threatened to be used for charcoal purposes and firewood consumption in Somalia.
|
Local name |
Scientific name |
|
Galool Qurac Qansax Hareeri Cadaad Xarar Tugar Jiiq |
Acacia bussei Acacia fortalis. Acacia renicients. Terminalia polycarba. Acacia singal. Terminalia spinosa. Acacia nilotica. Acacia seale |
Due to the absence of government there is no documentation of the volumes being exported or the amount of trees being cut down.
SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In the setting of forest-based demands and necessity, it is already impossible to completely eliminate or forbid any operations involving deforestation because aside from the fact that people needs forest-products in order to live, forests also help them to maintain source of livelihood. However, it is evident that an immediate and appropriate actions are still needed to pursue not only in Somalia but all over the world otherwise people can fear that forests and all the benefits that it can provide by just simply completing the balance of ecosystem can no longer be seen in the next few years.
Obviously, the excessive or massive deforestation has caused several threats not only in forests itself but all the living creatures depending on it, including humans. And as the creation that has the highest capability and authority to protect and prevent the endangerment of the forests and other living things, people should learn the principle and process of discipline in terms of using these natural resources. Before people forgot, though these are nature-given, the earth can still run out of it simply because of the greedy operations of humans.
The level of deforestation activities in Somalia is somewhat high and alarming. And this obviously needs immediate attention not only from a certain community, environmentalist groups but from the country’s government and general public. It is the forest that completes the livelihood of the many therefore it is the responsibility of that many to take care and use properly every forest area and other natural resources. Specifically, governments are advised to execute environmental rules and policies that would maintain moderate cleaning of forests areas for commercial and other significant purposes. In such alarming stage, governments are expected to be stricter in issuing licenses for deforestation. In addition, there should be a more effective and heavy punishments for those firms who will be caught operating without supportive and valid licenses for deforestation.
On the other hand, limiting the effect of deforestation should never be difficult because as a matter of fact, there is one specific solution that can be carried out right away and that is the reforestation. Though it does not necessarily mean that reforestation is such an easy thing to do, this can still be carried out successfully just as long there is a tight cooperation, budget, and relevant efforts not ju
st being aware and accepting the fact that working on reforestation would require one to get his hand dirty. Reforestation strives to restore more than a hundred of trees per year by extensive works on bagging, transplanting seeds to the forest which is reserve against deforestation, preparing soil, and collecting seeds. Some countries have already been alarmed by the growing impacts of deforestation reason why they have been engaged in reforestation, such as the Kenya. As a result, even though people continuous to clear and make use of forest-based products, they cannot fear the scenario where forests are no longer in sight because as they cut trees, they are planting one in return.
The best long-term solution for solving these problems would be better economic development to improve the income level of the people. Then, the rural people would not be forced to degrade their lands for the sake of food or cash earning, and the urban poor would have access to renewable fuel. The best approach in dealing with these problems would be a determined effort from all sectors, institutions and the people where everyone works together towards a common goal, due to the complexity of these problems there will be a viable and possible solution.
Local people hope that the government will control charcoal markets, limit the excess charcoal exportation profit-earning by local businessmen, and impose a ban charcoal exportations in Somalia and the best solution would be for most urban and rural people to shift from wood fuel to solar systems for cooking.
ABDULQADIR YUSUF JAMA