Households charcoal consumption, sustainability and its environmental impact in montserrado county, liberia

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Date

2024

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Abstract

The consumption of charcoal is a prevalent practice for many households in Montserrado County, Liberia. Charcoal serves as a primary source of cooking fuel for many families. While charcoal may be a readily available and affordable energy source, its production and consumption have significant environmental and sustainability concerns. The aim of this study was geared towards analyzing the factors influencing household charcoal consumption and the associated negative environmental consequences in Montserrado County, Liberia. Its sole objective was to gather necessary information to aid policy formulation on sustainable charcoal production and consumption in Liberia. Specifically, the study intended to look at the factors influencing households’ charcoal consumption, determine the challenges associated with charcoal consumption in the study area, identify the main sources of energy in the study area, and determine the environmental impacts associated with charcoal consumption. In this study, a Cross- sectional research design was adopted. The sample size was 386 respondents in Montserrado County. Quantitative data were collected and descriptive statistics and regression models were both used with the aid of SPSS (Version 20) in analyzing the data. Findings from the multiple linear regression model showed that household’s education level, number of meals per day, price of charcoal and household size were statistically significant (p < 0.05) associated with household’s charcoal consumption in Montserrado County. Furthermore, respondents identified high price (22.7%), low quality (21.6%) and dirtiness of homes (20%) as main challenges faced in the consumption of charcoal. Moreover, it was evident that increase in household’s charcoal consumption influenced charcoal production. More than half of the respondents (65.5%) strongly agreed that the unsustainable production of charcoal is one of the drivers of deforestation and (25.13%) agreed that the unsustainable production of charcoal also disrupt the soil profile, thus devastating the environment. Based on the findings from this study, to address the challenges posed by high charcoal consumption and its associated adverse environmental impacts, it is crucial to promote sustainable energy practices, increase hydro-electricity power supply, raise awareness about the environmental impact, subsidize the production of energy efficient technologies to reduce charcoal consumption and production, regulate the charcoal industry, and support research and development of alternative cleaner energy technologies such as solar, and briquettes as well as initiating education programs tailored to sustainable charcoal consumption and production in the study area. On the other hand, it is believed that the introduction of Low-cost retort-kiln or Improved Charcoal Production System (ICPS) will help minimize the adverse effects on the environment caused by charcoal production processes. In addition, engaging local communities, offering incentives, and fostering collaborations among stakeholders will further contribute to a more sustainable energy landscape and forest conservation in the region.

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MSc Dissertation

Keywords

Households charcoal, Sustainability, LAW/JURISPRUDENCE::Other law::Environmental law, Liberia, Montserrado country

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