Tag: degradation

Its in the Eyes – Images of degradation

Eyes of youth
Eyes of youth

[Note: A selection of charcoal images is now available for purchase and download from the Image Market – HERE.]

Whilst on a development mission in Mozambique, in the relatively remote Sofala Province, I was struck again by the immense impact of the practice of charcoaling.  All around was a haphazard devastation which no doubt grew insidiously, tree by tree.  The challenge is how to capture the underlying tragedy of what was happening.  I took a number of images but decided that the mood is best conveyed in sombre monotones.  The starkness of the landscape is captured in high contrast – the drama of what is happening is reflected in the eyes of the children of Metuchira.

For information on charcoaling, see the Blog Post entitled Charcoal and deforestation

The images can be seen in the Season Images Gallery.

Children of Metichura
Children of Metuchira

Charcoal and deforestation

[Note: A selection of charcoal images is now available for purchase and download from the Image Market – HERE.]

If you travel virtually anywhere in rural Africa you cannot fail to notice a growing environmental crisis – deforestation caused by charcoaling.  All households have basic energy needs which have to be met in the preparation of food, heating, boiling of water and other requirements.  Traditionally these needs have been met with the use of fuelwood.  With ever growing urbanization throughout Africa, fuelwood is not an option – the vegetation is just not available in urban fringe areas.   Other options of electricity, kerosine and LPG gas are beyond the affordability of  the vast majority of the poverty stricken urban fringe populations across the continent and so charcoal has become the only possible choice. Continue reading “Charcoal and deforestation”