Environmental Degradation in Puntland Policy Position
Introduction and Background:
The Subsequent collapse of the central government, the environmental protection agencies and
institutions because of dysfunctional institutions, charcoal exportation started across all Somali
ports (Bosaso, Berbera, Kismanyo and temporary ports in Puntland such as Ceelaayo, Qaw and
Mareero) in Puntland. Uncontrollable deforestation, soil erosion and flooding affects Puntland
environment. In Puntland this continued to describe a situation which is worrisome. Public
discourse regarding the state of the environment is become louder and more desperate because of
the disaster phasing the livestock which the three million of Puntland population depends, later on
in mid-2000 Puntland government succeeded to ban charcoal exportation in Puntland; however
this does not change much as the local charcoal consumption remains increasing simultaneously
and contributes to further creating economic vulnerability and repeated cycles of famine. The key
causes of identified problems include: Inadequate livelihood options for charcoal producers,
environmental and land management policies that are either ineffective or ineffectively
implemented, the inadequate use of alternative fuel sources and a lack of commitment from
communities to protect their environmental resources.
The Current Situation:
In Puntland the charcoal production for local consumption remains the same as the deforestation,
soil erosion and flooding are continuously exacerbating; because there is a contributing factors
such as a lack of strict environmental policies, limited environmental advocacy within the
community, cutting off vegetation for charcoal, timber used for building settlements, fire wood,
fencing, enclosure for business purposes and increased mobile camps, urban growth due to
population increase, over gazing due to lack of enough grazing lands, poor construction of dams,
poor waste management practices especially non-biodegradable solid wastes such as accumulation
of plastic bags in the environment.
The donor community contributed twenty five million Euro to the Puntland environment which
shows a high level of commitment from the international community for environmental protection.
The Puntland Minister of environment had published a range land guide book and draft
environmental policy which has no clear objects, e.g. in terms of the scope, as identified during the
meeting the policy needs urgent further improvement. Traditional elders have made significant
improvements towards the ceasing of the charcoal production and have issued act against charcoal
burning in some Puntland regions.
Significance:
There is a severe environmental problem in Puntland that is exacerbating day after day and leading
to the formation of uncontrollable gullies, soil erosion. These destructive developments have
impacted the lives of the livestock owners as well as on the livestock on which the people are
dependent for their living and livelihood. If the problem is not addressed soon the poverty level
will get worse and the Puntland population’s lives will be greatly affected.
PUNSAA intervention:
In January of 2014, The Puntland Non-State Actors Association (PUNSAA) organized a 3-day
environment conservation advocacy consultation meeting which brought together seventy five
people from all sectors of society such as women’s groups, professionals, youth organizations,
traditional elders and religious leaders. The broad based consultation meeting is aimed to discuss
policy issues in the advocacy strategy and produce policy positions and influence work plans, the
meeting also aimed at sensitizing people about the worrying matter of environmental degradation
in Puntland in order to create awareness about the impact about the degradation and the
importance of conservation and biodiversity. In this thematic working group consultation meeting,
PUNSAA adopted a position paper expressing the concerns and recommendations as well as
commitments from all the participating organizations.
Statement of the position of PUNSAA
Charcoal use should be banned in all the eight regions of Puntland. There should be alternative
sources of energy for cooking and other needs of consumption.
The ministry of environment should finalize the environmental protection policy increasing its
scope. Environmental protection commission should be established compromising traditional
elders, Ulima, environmental experts and graduates. Environmental protection policy should be
added to the Puntland education curriculum.
Recommendations:
There is a role to play for everyone. The government of Puntland should develop educational
programs that are aimed at not only educating people but also encouraging community efforts to
collectively find durable solutions. The government should support and enforce legislation to
strengthen consumer rights, especially to ensure environmentally sustainable, safe and healthy
products, and establish the "right to know" laws which enable people to make informed
consumption choices. The government must also establish or strengthen relationships with the civil
society through regular consultations on designing and evaluating development plans, programs
and projects aimed at environmental conservation.
All environment projects or programs must assess population needs within the context of
sustainability, including where and how demographic pressures are interacting most with natural
resources and ecologically sensitive areas, i.e., including population-environment dynamics such
as: soil erosion and desertification; deforestation; water scarcity; urbanization; extinction of species
from habitat destruction; and coastal resource depletion due to increased demands for water, and
housing, and unsustainable fishing. Training and empowering the youth and school teachers with
environmental techniques such as planting trees in education centers, hospitals and road sides is
highly encouraged.
The development and enactment of the Puntland Environmental Protection and Natural Resources
Management Act is highly recommended. Equally important is the compliance and enforcement of
environmental regulations and the integration of environmental considerations into the Puntland
State policies in plans and programs.
The establishment of strong institutions those who review environmental policies, act as
Monitoring and Evaluation for environmental activities such as NEMA in co-ordination with the
involved ministries and build national environmental conservation clubs including the traditional
elders based in throughout the regions in Puntland that monitors and evaluates the environmental
management activities and implements policies in co-ordination with the involved line ministries.
The creation of public awareness of environmental issues and social mobilization campaigns
through different local media such as FM radios, local TVs and newspapers on the use of harmless
alternative energy sources which replaces the use of charcoal should be encouraged. Even more
important is the application of the knowledge at all levels of society. For example at school level the
conservation of the environment should be systematically encouraged in the school curriculum as a
means of civic education to increases the number of knowledgeable, supporters sympathizers and
well-wishers of the environment.