Charcoal trade: South Sudan’s forests at the crossroads of survival

MALAKAL – The outskirts of Malakal in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state are nearly barren. Many residential areas, deserted during the conflict, are now overgrown with shrubs, and a few slender trees struggle to take root. Inhabitants say that the forests, once abundant between 2009 and 2012, have significantly diminished since the conflict began in 2013.

Within Malakal, Paloich, Renk, and other towns in Upper Nile state, charcoal sales have become a common and profitable business, evident on streets, in kiosks, and in small shops.

The charcoal is produced in nearby forests and transported to town for bulk sales. In Malakal, a full sack costs 10,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP). For someone who produces 100 sacks, this can translate into an income of about 1,000,000 SSP for their family.

The charcoal trade is predominantly male dominated. Women who engage in the business typically buy sacks of charcoal, repack them into smaller bags, and sell them at 500 SSP each, making a profit of around 5,000 SSP per sack.

John Tut (not his real name), a resident of Malakal, explains that charcoal production has become a vital source of income for many who lack other means of supporting their families. “It has become a source of living for those who have no other way to make money, so they go to the bush, chop down trees to make charcoal, and bring it to town to sell. Others are cutting down trees for timber,” Tut says.

During a visit to the area, Sudans Post observed that most charcoal producers are soldiers, refugees who do not receive enough food to feed their families, and pastoralists who settle in the forests of Upper Nile State.

Tut warns that large-scale charcoal production could lead to severe deforestation. He urges the government to enforce a policy requiring individuals to obtain licenses before cutting down trees. He also recommends that the government strengthen the capacity of local authorities to monitor and protect the forests.

“Many people are cutting down the trees. Even the forests on the outskirts of Malakal, especially in the farther villages, have been completely depleted. They are now moving closer to the town. This should be stopped by the government,” he adds.

Traveling from Malakal town to Paloich payam in Melut county, one can see freshly cut trees, mostly red or white acacia, and logs piled along the road, waiting to be burned for charcoal. Sometimes, heaps of logs are seen burning on the roadside, with charcoal burners busy at work, seemingly unconcerned about law enforcement.

Causes of deforestation

James Obaj (not his real name) believes the conflict is a major driver of deforestation in South Sudan, as it deprives people of food, forcing them to turn to forests for survival. “War leads to food shortages, and deforestation becomes a source of income, whether for charcoal, building poles, or firewood,” he explains.

During a visit to the area, this reporter observed other trees, including the desert date tree (Lalob tree), being cut down, either for charcoal or to be used as building poles. In Maban County, where refugees are settling, it is common to see tree stumps near Genderassa Refugee Camp in Jinkwata Payam, as well as trees burning for charcoal.

Some citizens have also begun large-scale sales of poles cut directly from the forest. However, government officials in Maban acknowledge that there are no proper laws protecting their forests. Most refugee homes are built using wood cut directly from the forests, with some refugees selling wood as well. However, some say they are sometimes prevented by the host community from cutting trees.

While felling trees for charcoal and poles is the most visible cause of deforestation in Upper Nile State, it may not be the only factor. Bush burning is another challenge, leading to the destruction of young trees. Setting bushes or areas around compounds on fire is common in Upper Nile State, with little regard for the negative impacts on soil and forests.

In addition, several years of flooding have led to the withering of trees. This is evident in areas between Malakal and Paloich, where trees stand lifeless in water. Ater Peter (not his real name), a government official in the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Forestry, notes that stagnant water has hindered forest revival for the last three years. “We discovered that most of the trees dried up due to flooding. In the last three years, forests have been covered with stagnant water. When the water stays for too long, trees dry up,” Ater says.

Hope now lies in the sprouting stems of the cut red and white acacia trees between Paloich and Malakal, but the years it will take for these trees to regrow could have a significant impact on the climate and environment.

According to Global Forest Watch, 1,160 Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) fire alerts were reported in Upper Nile State between May 12 and May 19, 2024. Of these, 77, or 6.6%, were high-confidence alerts. The total number of VIIRS fire alerts reported between May 15, 2023, and May 13, 2024, was 7,200.

Global Forest Watch also reports that 217 deforestation alerts were recorded in the state between May 7 and May 14, 2024, covering a total of 3 hectares of land.

In 2010, Upper Nile State had 71% tree cover. Melut County had the highest tree cover with 503 hectares, followed by Baliet County with 386 hectares, Maiwut with 74 hectares, Sobat with 27.9 hectares, and Maban with 1.27 hectares of tree cover.

In 2000, an assessment of a sample of land, 0.76% of Upper Nile State’s land cover had over 30 percent tree cover, no plantation cover and 7.67 mega hectares were other vegetations.

From 2000-2020, Global Forest Watch states that Upper Nile gained up to 236 kilo hectares (kha) of tree cover equivalent to 22% tree cover gain in South Sudan.

Between 2001 and 2021, Upper Nile State had 64 percent tree cover loss of 146 hectares more than the average of 29 hectares.

IOM released a report on deforestation in 2021 warning of desertification as a possible negative impact of deforestation because of extraction of forestry products in the northern part of South Sudan which includes Upper Nile State.

It quotes the national ministry of environment’s national environmental policy 2015 that 50-200 km along northern border has turned from semi-arid desert to desert. It says this is due to loss of trees which act as wind breakers, loss of water sources and land degradation.

Response and challenges

The government of South Sudan has legalized cutting of some tree species especially the white and red acacia. The government permits people who seek permission to cut these trees for charcoal.

The reason is that these trees can regrow after two to three years. The second reason is that when people are prevented from cutting down these trees, they are at a risk of starving with their families due to the current economic crisis.

“Our forest is just growing alone. It does not need somebody to go and grow some types of trees. But what the government says all the time is that there is another tree called Lalob tree (desert date tree); that is not recommended to be cut. But for the rest like the white and red acacia tree, if you cut them down this year, after two years it will grow up again,” says John Tut.

Ater Peter, says many people go illegally into the forest and cut trees that are forbidden to be cut. But when asked for permission given the economic crisis, the ministry allows people but guides them on specific trees to cut.

“But for the livelihood, we normally use to give the approval; and guide them which tree to cut and which tree not to cut,” he says.

He says the government allows people to cut red and white acacia for charcoal, firewood or poles but does not allow Lalob tree (desert dates) because it does not grow after cutting.

He says some people sometimes use machines to cut down trees. He says the use of machines damages the forest because even the trees that have the capability of regrowing after cutting will not.

However, says the ministry lacks vehicles for transportation to counties and payams (a local government administration that comes after a county and equivalent to a sub-county or division in other local government systems) to monitor the forests. He says many areas are not accessible because of poor roads and floods currently making the work of the ministry very hard.

He says there was a little improvement in 2023 compared to 2021 and 2022, because the rain pattern reduced, and floods receded.

“In 2023, the rain was not too much, and the flooding also reduced a bit. So, when we compare the loss this year, it has improved. When we compare the loss due to climate change this year, is a bit better so we don’t know what is going to happen this coming rainy season,” Ater explains.

He says lack of mobility is impeding the government’s plan to deploy forests guards. He says they do sensitize the people through local radios so that the people can be aware of the importance of forests.

“There are counties that are not accessible now because of roads and also security factors and currently we are operating in Renk, Maban, Akoka, Baliet, Malakal, and Fashoda. We however realise that Malakal, and Renk and Melut are experiencing high rates of deforestation,” Chol says adding that “these are the areas that we are going to prioritise and deploy our forestry guards to take care and protect.”

He also says that the director has requested the state government for a vehicle to be provided to help their team reach unreachable areas. He adds that they lack a serious partner supporting environment and forestry in Upper Nile State except those NGOs who provide seedlings to the directorate.

He urges communities across the state to conserve forests so that the place does not turn into a desert.

Recommendations

James Obaj recommends pursuit of peace and stability if the forests are to be properly protected. He also recommends reafforestation as another solution to deforestation in Upper Nile State.

Chol Monyjok, director of administration and finance at the Upper Nile State ministry of agriculture, environment and forestry says sensitization will improve the status of deforestation in Upper Nile State.

“This thing can be improved through awareness, through deploying our forestry guards in the forest and these are the next steps that we are moving in. each location we need at least to have forestry guard to be deployed to prevent those who are randomly cutting trees,” he says.

On the other hand, IOM deforestation report 2021 recommended several interventions. These include government implementing policies to hold those depleting forests accountable, funding of the environment and forestry sector, reforestation, implementation of poverty alleviation measures to avoid dependence on forestry products for survival, gender-sensitive programmes to help women with financial support to revert to the use of clean energy.

Other recommendations include promotion of the use of affordable fuel options such as solar panels, gas and generators instead of firewood and charcoal, education to change mindsets that support dependence on forest products, strengthening market systems including improved economic situation such as fight against inflation, natural disasters and conflict, and preparation for returnees with extensive support to resettle without exploiting forestry resources for their livelihoods.

The IOM’s 2021 deforestation report recommended several remedies to address deforestation in South Sudan.

These include government policies to hold those depleting forests accountable, sector funding for environment and forestry, reforestation, poverty alleviation measures, gender-sensitive programs for women, affordable fuel options, mindset change, market strengthening, resettlement support, sustainable shelter designs, regulation and accountability, and integration of environmental assessment into rapid humanitarian assessments.

In our view, there should be planting of other tree varieties in the forest especially during the rainy season and in homes to help attract rainfall. There should be a policy that any person who cuts a tree should plant two or three seedlings to replace the cut tree. This will help forests thrive and the forestry policies currently in place should be strictly enforced.