The Significance and Sustainability of Charcoal Production in the ...

FAO (2010a) ‘Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Woodfuels’ is used as the main source
for charcoal related issues: it discussed the positive and negative impacts of fuelwood
production and consumption. Kinyanjui (1987) describes closely the charcoal production and
supply network besides economic impacts of the production. ‘Mapping Food and Bioenergy
in Africa’ by Diaz-Chavez et al. (2010) supplements the previous studies as it provides
information about forests, land tenure and management and fuelwoods in Kenya. Anderson et
al. (1999) describe further sustainability of household energy production and consumption in
‘Rural Energy Services. A Handbook for Sustainable Energy Development’. Several writers
have contributed to ‘Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems for Resources
Management in Developing Countries’ (eds. by Belward & Valenzuela 1991) which is used
as a source for RS and GIS related issues together with ‘Environmental Modelling with GIS
and Remote Sensing’ edited by Skidmore (2002) that relates to sustainable models of land
management among other themes.
2.2.1 Socio-economic data collection and analysis methods
When a study is made in social environment research ethics must be considered (Scheyvens et
al. (2003: 143). The anonymity of persons interviewed was assured, if so prefered, so no
inconvenience is caused to anyone. The participants were informed about the nature of the
study before the interview or discussion and all the compensations paid during the field work
were negotiated and agreed on with the remunarated assistants. According to Scheyvens and
Storey (2003:44-47) researcher must take in consideration the consequences of the research,
the length and time taken from the interviewees, who gains access to the data and what is the
final product. These issues were considered during the field work, and after, for instance, the
thesis will be accessible from Internet and it will be sent to the NGOs in Dakatcha Woodland.
Literature review was used to interpret the secondary sources, where as the contents of
interviews and open questions from the questionnaires were analysed by themes and
connections that related them to the theoretical framework as recommended by Hirsjärvi and
Hurme (2006: 153). Quantitative data from assessments, surveys and other sources was
analysed statistically using Microsoft Excel 2007 where as qualitative analysis was done with
Microsoft Word 2007.
Observations were done in the the study area by walking and by car. Improvised informal
discussions were conducted during the field observations, for instance, if local charcoal
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