Overuse of wood-based bioenergy in selected sub-Saharan Africa countries: review of unconstructive challenges and suggestions

Abstract

Abstract Excessive wood consumption for energy and over-dependence on fossil fuel-based energy are fundamental issues of importance regarding the destruction of environmental sanity. In this respect, international communities are seeking to explore opportunities on how to encourage aggressive deployment of technologies for clean and sustainable development and possibly renewable. The Kyoto protocol on climate change meeting in 1997 with about 160 countries in attendance has been used as one of the platform of discourse on carbon emissions reduction strategies. Advocated strategies agreed include increase in renewable energy consumption via modern techniques. Massive deployment of renewable energy systems on a global scale will ensure a reasonable displacement of oil based energy production which is the main source of anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases. In sub-Saharan Africa, limited access to modern energy in the region has stepped-up reliance on bioenergy consumption in form of wood fuel and charcoal resulting to attendant effects on human health, environment and the biodiversity in general. In view of the foregoing, this study presents a review on the current situations of unconstructive effects in the overuse of fuel wood and its charcoal derivative for energy consumption in three selected sub-Saharan African countries; Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda. In conclusion, suggestions on how to confront the challenges associated with the over-exploitation conditions of fuel wood in the region are put forward. The suggestions could be part of the pursuit to increase electricity availability, reliability and security with lower level of emissions in the region.