perceptions of modern cooking technologies (Tamire et al. 2018), and fuel availability and accessibility (Dalaba et al. 2018) (see also Chap. 2 Vol. 1; Chap. 5
Vol. 2).
The negative impact associated with traditional salt production could be avoided
through the promotion and adoption of improved and semi-improved salt production
techniques (i.e. GS, MS) (Sect. 7.2.1). According to Balde et al. (2014c), improved
salt production techniques could become a viable alternative to the traditional salt
production techniques (i.e. TSP) that consume significant amounts of fuelwood from
mangrove and upland forests (Sects. 7.3.1–7.3.2). This could reduce mangrove and
upland forest over-exploitation and at the same time increase profit margins by
reducing reliance to the increasingly expensive fuelwood from upland forests
(Sect. 7.3.1). The adoption and sustained use of such techniques can also improve
local livelihoods, considering that the salt producers using improved techniques tend
to (a) have more household assets and better housing, (b) achieve higher profits and
(c) work fewer hours investing the saved time to secondary income generation
activities such as mangrove rice production (Balde et al. 2013b).
Similarly, some of the negative impacts of current rice production practices can
be reduced through the implementation and proper maintenance of improved irrigation systems. Stabilizing (or even increasing) rice yields through such systems would
reduce the need for encroaching new mangrove forest areas through slash-and-burn
to expand paddy areas. However, many farmers lack the resources, funding and
capacity to maintain properly such irrigation systems (Balde et al. 2013a, d).
Increasing the adoption of improved salt production and rice production techniques would require a series of interventions. First, it would be imperative to raise
the awareness of local communities about the benefits of these practices on local
livelihoods and mangrove conservation. Currently, local and international NGOs
provide such services that reach, however, few local communities due to funding
constraints (Balde et al. 2013b). The gradual involvement of other actors, and
especially of government agencies, would be a necessary step for reaching more
local communities.
7.5 Conclusions
This chapter explored the interaction of common livelihood options in the coastal
region of Guinea with mangrove and upland forests. In particular, it explored the
energy procurement and consumption patterns of salt producers, wood loggers and
rice farmers, especially as it relates to fuelwood. The results suggest that all groups
depend heavily on fuelwood from upland and mangrove forests and tend to use
traditional stoves for cooking and livelihood activities.
However, the growing mangrove degradation associated with such practices led
to the restriction of mangrove forest logging in the Balessourou and Bentya districts
by the local government in the former case and the Darabo union in the latter case.
However, partly due to these restrictions, the costs of upland fuelwood have been
238
B. S. Balde et al.
Vol. 2).
The negative impact associated with traditional salt production could be avoided
through the promotion and adoption of improved and semi-improved salt production
techniques (i.e. GS, MS) (Sect. 7.2.1). According to Balde et al. (2014c), improved
salt production techniques could become a viable alternative to the traditional salt
production techniques (i.e. TSP) that consume significant amounts of fuelwood from
mangrove and upland forests (Sects. 7.3.1–7.3.2). This could reduce mangrove and
upland forest over-exploitation and at the same time increase profit margins by
reducing reliance to the increasingly expensive fuelwood from upland forests
(Sect. 7.3.1). The adoption and sustained use of such techniques can also improve
local livelihoods, considering that the salt producers using improved techniques tend
to (a) have more household assets and better housing, (b) achieve higher profits and
(c) work fewer hours investing the saved time to secondary income generation
activities such as mangrove rice production (Balde et al. 2013b).
Similarly, some of the negative impacts of current rice production practices can
be reduced through the implementation and proper maintenance of improved irrigation systems. Stabilizing (or even increasing) rice yields through such systems would
reduce the need for encroaching new mangrove forest areas through slash-and-burn
to expand paddy areas. However, many farmers lack the resources, funding and
capacity to maintain properly such irrigation systems (Balde et al. 2013a, d).
Increasing the adoption of improved salt production and rice production techniques would require a series of interventions. First, it would be imperative to raise
the awareness of local communities about the benefits of these practices on local
livelihoods and mangrove conservation. Currently, local and international NGOs
provide such services that reach, however, few local communities due to funding
constraints (Balde et al. 2013b). The gradual involvement of other actors, and
especially of government agencies, would be a necessary step for reaching more
local communities.
7.5 Conclusions
This chapter explored the interaction of common livelihood options in the coastal
region of Guinea with mangrove and upland forests. In particular, it explored the
energy procurement and consumption patterns of salt producers, wood loggers and
rice farmers, especially as it relates to fuelwood. The results suggest that all groups
depend heavily on fuelwood from upland and mangrove forests and tend to use
traditional stoves for cooking and livelihood activities.
However, the growing mangrove degradation associated with such practices led
to the restriction of mangrove forest logging in the Balessourou and Bentya districts
by the local government in the former case and the Darabo union in the latter case.
However, partly due to these restrictions, the costs of upland fuelwood have been
238
B. S. Balde et al.