Paper Title
The Influence of Charcoal Production Activities and Environmental Impacts of Middle Shabelle Region in Somalia

Abstract
Charcoal production for urban energy consumption is a main driver of forest degradation in many Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed with urgency. Somalia is highly hit with natural resource degradation especially charcoal production since it is the main source of energy and livelihood for the residents. The trend is causing serious land cover changes that could have far reaching socio-economic implications. This study investigated the influence of charcoal production activities and environmental impacts of Middle Shabelle region, the actors engaged in charcoal business, their motivating factors, problems associated with charcoal burning as well as their long term effects on the environment. Survey research design was used in this study involving the use of semi-structured questionnaire, with a target of 30 respondents sampled through person-to-person interview, selected using purposive/systematic random sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistical data techniques were used to analyze the field data in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (Version 25). The findings of this study revealed that charcoal production is the only source of income and livelihood to the residents of Middle Shabelle region. The interviewed respondents pointed out that traditional kiln method of charcoal production are highly used among charcoal producers. There has been unsustainable logging of trees especially acacia bussei species die to their quality charcoal. This is a big challenge to the highly predicted forest cover depletion, which is affecting the rooting of a green economy in Somalia. Loss of vegetation cover, land degradation through soil erosion, disruption of the natural ecosystem, biodiversity loss and drying up of water bodies were pointed out as the major environmental problems emanating from deforestation from charcoal production. This calls for urgent need on public awareness and community participation on energy saving technologies on charcoal production and use, government legislations on charcoal production with focus on reforestation and afforestation to be reinforced nation-wide in hopes to achieve a sustainable environment. Keywords - Environmental Problems, Forest Cover Degradation, Charcoal Production, Middle Shabelle