Comments on: Trees for Africa http://www.earthfeed.com/trees-for-africa/ ecological dispatches from a small planet Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:27:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Earth Feed http://www.earthfeed.com/trees-for-africa/#comment-68 Earth Feed Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:57:57 +0000 http://www.theearthfeed.com/?p=257#comment-68 It's a difficult balance. On the one hand, charcoal plays an important role in both the local economy and as valuable fuel source that puts food on the table. I've seen alternative high efficiency wood stoves distributed by NGO's, but for whatever reason they never seem to catch on. People need fuel, and charcoal is portable, affordable fuel. On the other hand, deforestation exasperates the impacts of climate change, leads to soil degradation, which impacts land fertility, and ultimately creates inhospitable living conditions. Ultimately nation states will have to decide on a forest management policy that balances poverty alleviation with economic stability. Tough decisions to be sure. It’s a difficult balance. On the one hand, charcoal plays an important role in both the local economy and as valuable fuel source that puts food on the table. I’ve seen alternative high efficiency wood stoves distributed by NGO’s, but for whatever reason they never seem to catch on. People need fuel, and charcoal is portable, affordable fuel.

On the other hand, deforestation exasperates the impacts of climate change, leads to soil degradation, which impacts land fertility, and ultimately creates inhospitable living conditions.

Ultimately nation states will have to decide on a forest management policy that balances poverty alleviation with economic stability. Tough decisions to be sure.

]]> By: Chris L http://www.earthfeed.com/trees-for-africa/#comment-67 Chris L Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:31:56 +0000 http://www.theearthfeed.com/?p=257#comment-67 Bleah. I heard from a friend of mine that there are estimates that by mid-century (or sooner) Uganda will be almost entirely deforested for the sake of charcoal production. I haven't got any links about it for you, but the person who told me about it lives there... What a nightmare. Bleah. I heard from a friend of mine that there are estimates that by mid-century (or sooner) Uganda will be almost entirely deforested for the sake of charcoal production. I haven’t got any links about it for you, but the person who told me about it lives there… What a nightmare.

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