Charcoal Production and Use: Drawbacks to Rooting a Green Economy

This study assessed the effect of charcoal production and use on rooting a green economy in Kenya. Essentially the study identified the target tree species that are a source of charcoal consumed in Nairobi city; determined quantity of charcoal consumed in the city of Nairobi; estimated forest cover depletion; and investigated the awareness of charcoal consuming population on the environmental hazards of charcoal production and use. The study adopted a research survey design involving the use of semi-structured questionnaire, with a target of 100 respondents (20 large scale charcoal traders and 80 charcoal users) sampled through person-to-person interview, selected using a purposive/systematic random sampling technique. Descriptive statistical data techniques were used to analyze the field data. The findings revealed that charcoal production and use alone is responsible for the depletion of about 151,746 ha of forest cover in Kenya annually. Using simple linear regression analysisand at 95% confidence interval, the study also significantly revealed that forest cover depletion is predicted by charcoal consumption which is affecting the rooting of a green economy in Kenya.