Impact of Urban Wood Energy Demand on The Countryside Resources

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of urban wood energy demand on countryside flagile ecosystems. The study specifically focused on charcoal production in Msimbu and Chole villages, in the peri-urban of Dar es Salaam city. It sought to determine the impact and effects of environmental degradation caused by charcoal production in Kisarawe District, as well as the demand of urban wood energy. Further, the study examined the mechanism by which rural people coped with the negative effects posed by charcoal production to meet urban wood energy demand. For the purpose of this study, a case study design was used. The study was based on an empirical investigation which could be classified as descriptive and exploratory study. It was designed to give a more empirical reality by presenting the main statistics and some qualitative representation of the impact of urban wood energy demand on the countryside resources in Tanzania. This study was carried out in two villages — Msimbu and Chole in Kisarawe district. The criterion for selecting these villages was mainly based on the distance from charcoal consumers (Dar es Salaam city). Msimbu, in Sungwi ward, is about 50 kilometres from Dar es Salaam. Chole, in Chole ward, is about 85 km south of Kisarawe town and about 115 km from Dar es Salaam. Both villages share the same topographical characteristics. These villages were selected after holding consultations with district officials who were much more familiar with the local situation. Four main techniques were used to collect primary data for this study. These included: direct observation, interviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussions. Direct observation was used extensively throughout the study. The researcher kept his eyes open witnessing mounts of charcoal kilns and hips of bags ready for transport/sale, bags of charcoal on trucks, bicycles or on heads of people. He walked through forests to observe conditions described by informants or in reports, and visited charcoal kilns, truck yards, bus depots and checkpoints. He observed the flow of charcoal into Dar city while monitoring entry checkpoints to determine the volume, points of origin and destination of charcoal.