The impact of urban wood energy demand on the countryside resources: the case study of charcoal production in Msimbu and Chole Villages in Kisarawe District.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of urban wood energy demand on countryside resources. The study specifically focused on charcoal production in Msimbu and Chole villages, in the periurban of Dar es Salaam City. The findings revealed that charcoal production done in the peri-urban areas is primarily for commercial purposes to meet the growing urban wood energy needs. Charcoal production was formerly devoted to when one was in need of cash to meet basic socio-economic needs. However, with growing wood energy demand by the urban people the business became a full-time activity. It was learnt that the factors that push people to engage in these activities apart from high urban wood energy demand, are poverty (life hardships), unemployment and ignorance of the negative impact of over exploitation of forests. The effects of these non-environmentally friendly activities range from ecological to social impacts. Where as the ecological impact includes deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and degradation of water catchment areas; the social impacts range from rural fuelwood shortages, increasing the already burden women shoulder, such as childbearing, household chores, food production and community activities to food shortages. The aftermath of all these is prevalence of poverty in the area.