Rural Dwellers’ Perception of Effect of Charcoal Production on the Environment in Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria

Despite the law promulgated by the Federal Government of Nigeria prohibiting illicit felling of trees, the number of charcoal producers is on the increase coupled with a sharp rise in the quantity of charcoal produced with its attendants environmental consequences. Thus, this study investigated rural dwellers’ perception of the effect of Charcoal Production (CP) on the environment in Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria. Eighty five respondents were selected through multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule and were analysed, using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings show that the mean age of charcoal producers was 43 years. Majority (90.5%) was males, 90.6% of the charcoal producers were married and 35.3% had no formal education. Majority (80.0%) of the respondents made use of earth mound method of CP and 52.9% of them produced between 32 kg and 32000 kg of charcoal per annum. Most of the respondents (62.7%) perceived that charcoal production could lead to erosion, while 62.4% of them perceived that charcoal production would not only reduce the available trees for future use but also reduce the available air in the environment (54.1%). Regression result showed that farming activities (β= 0.305), farming system (0.301), years of experience (β= 0.365) and sources of trees (β= 0.280) were implicated in the level of perceived environmental effects of charcoal production in the study area. Thus, high level of perceived environmental effects of charcoal production was recorded. Therefore, charcoal producers should be educated on the effects of CP on the environment and to participate actively in the replacement of trees.