Charcoal burning threatens shea tree

Aug 30, 2009

CULTURAL law protects it. Village elders forbid their people from cutting it. Locals say if the tree is cut, a drought will descend upon the land and a curse unto the cutter. But, today, despite all the efforts of the local leaders, the much adored tree i

By Isabel Pike

CULTURAL law protects it. Village elders forbid their people from cutting it. Locals say if the tree is cut, a drought will descend upon the land and a curse unto the cutter. But, today, despite all the efforts of the local leaders, the much adored tree in this northern part of the country is under threat.

Yet, with its natural ability to yield nuts for up to 300 years and produce oil, the shea nut tree is but a godsend to the locals here.

When people lived in internally displaced people’s camps (IDP) camps, the bylaw protecting the shea nut tree was disregarded.

Elders were dispersed, diluting their power, and rebels made searching for firewood highly dangerous. As a result, people in IDPs cut down the trees closest to the camp, and the much honoured shea nut tree was not spared. Today, the land around camps is alarmingly dry and treeless.

Adding to this pressure, the charcoal trade is booming as peace reigns and people return to their homes. “Before the camps, people were going for agriculture, but now they need immediate money so they turn to charcoal burning and selling,” says Samuel Abwola, the district forestry officer in Gulu.

In the past, charcoal burning was considered a lowly job but as harvests fail under the scorching sun, for many it has become the only source of livelihood.

“Women, men, young, old, anyone can charcoal. It just needs energy,” says Abwola.

Hardwoods, like the shea nut tree, are especially popular because they produce heavy charcoal that burns for a long time and produces strong heat.

Despite the booming charcoal trade and the desirable charcoaling qualities of the shea nut tree, some village elders are trying to implement the cultural law protecting the tree once more.

Akena John Bosco, who just received a score of 11 in his A’ levels exams from Kitgum High School, has been burning charcoal in his village of Loyoajong for the past three months.

“If you want to get money in the village, you have to do it,” he says, adding that he hopes to continue his studies as soon as he can.

He does the charcoal burning all by himself, from cutting the tree, to heating it in the traditional kiln to packing it in plastic sacks. He does not cut down the shea nut trees for charcoal because of the strong leadership in his village.

“When you cut a shea nut tree, the local leaders demand a fine of sh50,000 or ask you to slaughter a goat,” he says, as he covers his charcoal sack
with dry grass.

The shea nut oil is central to the northern way of life. Most women in Loyoajong make shea oil, which is used for cooking and moisturising babies’ skin. Mothers send their children out to collect the nuts, which they then dry, pound, and cook to obtain the oil.

According to a village elder, Nyeko Livingstone, 69, the oil is also used in many traditional ceremonies. “When someone dies of an illness, the surviving family members are smeared with shea,” he says.

Despite the growing protection of certain species, trees are turning to charcoal.

According to Abwola, local leaders should be supported in their efforts but tree protection is not enough. “We want to have people come together to replant the area where they cut trees for charcoaling,” he says, adding that without replanting, the trees will disappear, and so will the charcoal trade.

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