Creating conducive policies and laws

A system of decentral supervision and control through local forest authorities and enforcement patrols in the villages has been set up. Awareness raising against illegal practices was strengthened. Public controls of transport routes to consumption hotspots and markets ensure that charcoalers, transporters and retailers are motivated to use sustainably sourced wood.

 

The strategic orientation on green charcoal value chains has been laid down in a Regional Modernisation Strategy (Vision 2020) for the DIANA region. The strategy was the outcome of a negotiation process with main actors of civil society. Key elements include improved forest management, reforestation & introduction of efficient technologies and the development of local wood energy markets.

 

Proposals for regulatory measures were made to curb unregulated and widespread production of wood energy in remaining natural forests. An environmental coordination platform (OSC-E/DIANA) reuniting all relevant actors of the civil society of the DIANA region has been created. The members of the platform gather regularly to discuss the progress of the modernisation process and to negotiate how to overcome upcoming barriers.

  • Awareness of policy makers to foster wood as a renewable source of energy
  • Good governance and tenure security, esp. self-determined allocation of wastelands to households committed to their reclamation and sustainable use
  • Multi-stakeholder coordination (regional biomass energy exchange platform - PREEB) to promote coordinate the implementation of the regional woodfuel strategy
  • Enhanced law enforcement and transparency enhancing market competitiveness of sustainable charcoal
  • Formulation of a regional woodfuel strategy has to be based on a consensual vision, high-level commitment and ownership, and sound baseline information. The strategy must combine the modernisation of “upstream” and “downstream” aspects of the value chain
  • Value chain development must be backed up with policy support and business development
  • Value chain development needs to be incentivised through fiscal exemptions during the start-up phase; at later stages, parties to the value chain will be able to contribute funds to their respective municipalities