Charcoal has been the only source of domestic energy in Somaliland since its independence in 1991. People living in urban and rural areas cut down trees and large forests in Hawd Region and use them as fuel for local purposes without replacing them. The country is facing huge threat resulted by humans.

Somaliland is characterized by its harsh and semi-desert in nature and about 75% can be considered as semi-arid but at the same time the few areas covered by good vegetation and forests constitute 25%. Areas covered by vegetation including Sanaag, Hawd and places alongside Berbera coast. Over 29 years of massive deforestation and land degradation, only less than 10% of the country has trees and vegetation which expresses a very desperate statistics. Charcoal use in urban areas is extremely appreciated by large number of the society where very few are conscious about its consequences in the environment.

Despite consuming energy from charcoal, its limitations are tremendous and have long-term effects. Basically, deforestation leads to charcoal and deforestation alone is a big agent to floods and water surface run-off. In Somaliland, heavy rains cause flooding in the capital city of Hargeisa and it is worth-sharing that twelve people dead as a result of floods last month. Secondly, charcoal its self leaves black powder and make clothes and hands of people dirty. Also, charcoal finances armed conflict in Sool Region where there is violent conflict between Somaliland and Puntland. Further, charcoal production is threat to biodiversity and trees ecosystem because certain types of trees are targeted during deforestation for charcoal production.

In summary, a packet of charcoal is composed of many different trees which are  locally known and the price of the packet of charcoal is rising due to the fact that almost all trees in Hawd Region is cut down except very few in government rangeland. People in Somaliland are thinking about alternatives to charcoal in the future which shows their feeling towards overcoming consequences related to charcoal but also familiarizing themselves to new energy systems that replaces charcoal.