The Burning Crisis: Charcoal Production and Deforestation in Zambia
How charcoal burning is destroying Zambia's forests and what we're doing to stop it
Zambia is facing an environmental crisis of alarming proportions. Each year, vast tracts of forest are cleared and burned to produce charcoal - the primary cooking fuel for over 70% of urban households. This practice, while providing essential energy and livelihoods, is destroying Zambia's forests at an unsustainable rate.
Charcoal production has become both a lifeline and an environmental disaster in Zambia. We must find sustainable alternatives before our forests disappear completely. The time for action is now.
The Scale of Deforestation
Zambia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, losing between 250,000 to 300,000 hectares of forest annually. Charcoal production accounts for approximately 50% of this deforestation, with devastating consequences for biodiversity, climate, and water resources.
Annual deforestation rate in Zambia
Attributed to charcoal production
Annual charcoal industry value
Annual Forest Loss in Zambia (2015-2025)
Why Charcoal Dominates Zambia's Energy Mix
Charcoal remains the primary cooking fuel for Zambia's urban population due to several factors:
- Affordability: Cheaper than electricity or gas for low-income households
- Accessibility: Widely available through informal networks
- Cultural preference: Traditional cooking methods and taste preferences
- Energy poverty: Limited access to electricity (only 44% of population)
- Livelihoods: Provides income for over 500,000 Zambians
- Infrastructure gaps: Limited LPG distribution networks
Urban Household Energy Sources in Zambia
Current Interventions to Stop Charcoal Burning
The Zambian government, NGOs, and international partners are implementing several interventions to combat deforestation from charcoal production:
Promoting Alternative Energy
Subsidizing electric and induction cookers, expanding LPG distribution networks, and promoting ethanol gel stoves as cleaner alternatives to charcoal.
Sustainable Charcoal Production
Training charcoal producers in efficient kiln technologies that reduce wood consumption by up to 40% while increasing yield.
Forest Protection Policies
Strengthening enforcement of logging bans in protected areas and implementing community forest management programs.
Reforestation Initiatives
Large-scale tree planting programs focused on fast-growing species for fuelwood, with over 5 million trees planted annually.
Economic Diversification
Creating alternative livelihoods for charcoal producers through beekeeping, agroforestry, and ecotourism.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Educating consumers about the environmental impact of charcoal and promoting energy-efficient cooking practices.
Proposed Solutions for Sustainable Future
To effectively address the charcoal-deforestation crisis, we propose a multi-faceted approach:
Energy Transition
Accelerate rural electrification and make renewable energy affordable through subsidies and financing options.
Sustainable Woodlots
Establish dedicated woodlots for charcoal production using fast-growing species to reduce pressure on natural forests.
Economic Incentives
Implement payment for ecosystem services programs to reward forest conservation and sustainable management.
Projected Impact of Interventions
Reduction in deforestation by 2030
Increase in alternative energy adoption
Green jobs created
Regional Impact and Statistics
The charcoal deforestation crisis affects different regions of Zambia in distinct ways:
Deforestation by Province (2024)
Highest charcoal consumption
Most severe deforestation
Fastest-growing LPG adoption
The Path Forward
Addressing Zambia's charcoal-driven deforestation requires coordinated action across multiple sectors:
- Policy integration: Align energy, forestry, and agricultural policies to promote sustainability
- Technology adoption: Scale up efficient kilns and alternative cooking technologies
- Market transformation: Develop certified sustainable charcoal value chains
- Community engagement: Empower local communities as forest stewards
- Investment: Mobilize climate finance for forest conservation and energy transition
The solution to Zambia's charcoal crisis lies not in prohibition but in sustainable management. By valuing our forests alive rather than dead, we can meet energy needs while preserving our natural heritage for future generations.
Richrd Mutale
Forest Conservetion Officer
Richard Mutale has spent 20 years researching forest conservation in Southern Africa. He leads the Zambia Charcoal Alternatives Project and advises the Ministry of Green Economy on sustainable forest management.