Fuel wood and Charcoal Market in the City of Dammam in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

A Geographical Study in Environmental Protection

Abstract

This research discusses the fuel wood and charcoal market in Dammam city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. With the aim of protecting the environment, this studyseeks to identify the types of firewood and charcoal sold in the fuel wood and charcoal market in Dammamcity, their price, sources, quantities that are sold, why they are preferred, and for which purposes they are used. The study usesa descriptive analytical approach through which a comprehensive field survey of all the stores in the market is conducted. The stores consist of 76 stores for charcoal only and 19 stores for both fuel wood and charcoal.  Questionnaires were distributed to a random sample of 250 consumers of fuel wood and charcoal in Dammam city. The research findings have shown that domestic fuel wood is still secretly sold in a few stores. Local fuel wood consists of the following types: Acacia Tortilis,Acacia Etbaica,HaloxylonPersicum andProsopisJuliflora. Madinah, Jizan and Asir are the main exporting provinces of local fuel wood and charcoalin the market,whereas Acaciaspp, especially Acacia Tortilisand Acacia Etbaica, are the most prominent fuel wood imported from Africa. Imported charcoal (bags & boxes) from Africa and Southeast Asia is used extensively compared to local charcoal in Dammam city. The excessive use of fuel wood and charcoal results in a significant deterioration of the vegetation cover in Saudi Arabia, as well as countries of desert and semi-desert nature that export fuel wood and charcoal. This results in the emergence of several environmental problems. Despite their high educational and economic levels, consumers in Dammam city still use fuel wood and charcoal for heating and cooking during winter and spring, favoring local fuel wood and charcoal due to their high quality and popularity compared with imported types. The research findings have also shown that there is a direct correlation between the high level of education and the awareness of consumers of the importance of environmentalprotection. However, a small group of them still need to develop such awareness and promote the concept of culture of the environment, in addition to nurturinga feeling of affiliation and responsibility towards the natural environment.