Baidoa, Somalia — In Somalia’s Southwest State, a noticeable drop in demand for charcoal firewood is giving the region’s fragile forests a much-needed reprieve. But what spells hope for the environment is proving to be a serious setback for the thousands of families who have relied on the charcoal trade for generations.

The charcoal industry — long considered one of the main drivers of deforestation across Somalia — has sustained entire communities in Southwest State.

However, increased awareness of the impacts of deforestation and the emergence of alternative cooking fuels have begun to reduce demand. According to local forestry officials, this shift is already showing signs of recovery in previously degraded woodlands surrounding towns like Baidoa and Hudur.

“Forests that were under constant stress for years are slowly regenerating,” said Mohamed Ali, an environmental activist based in Baidoa. “We’re seeing a return of native trees and wildlife in some areas.”

But these gains come at a steep socioeconomic cost. For the hundreds of traders and rural harvesters who earned their living cutting, burning, and selling charcoal, the collapse of prices is upending their way of life.

“Charcoal was all we had,” lamented Asha Mohamed, a mother of five from a village near Baidoa. “Now there are few buyers. My children depend on this money to go to school and to put food on the table.”

In response to the mounting hardship, local leaders are calling for targeted assistance programs that can help these communities pivot toward sustainable livelihoods. Many suggest investments in alternative skills, from agriculture to renewable energy technologies, that could empower rural households while preserving the environment.

The Southwest regional administration has acknowledged the challenge.

“We appreciate the environmental benefits,” said Hassan Ali, a state official. “But we must balance this progress with economic support for those who have lost their main source of income.”

For decades, the charcoal trade has been a double-edged sword in Somalia — providing income even as it stripped ecosystems. Today, as the forests of Southwest come back to life, the human toll of this transition underscores the need for a carefully managed shift toward sustainability that doesn’t leave communities behind.

With international attention turning toward Somalia’s environment and economy, the story unfolding in Southwest State is a reminder that green progress must go hand in hand with practical solutions for people.