12 – 16 June 2011 Arusha International Conference Centre, Tanzania

1. A Symposium & Workshop The role of charcoal in health, local environments, climate change, and poverty alleviation initiatives 12 – 16 June 2011 Arusha International Conference Centre, Tanzania Organized by:

2. The link between charcoal, poverty, health, and climate change is undisputed, but how can sustainable solutions for charcoal feature more prominently in existing policies and initiatives addressing poverty and climate change? Charcoal Facts: • Charcoal is the main energy source for more than 90% of sub-Saharan Africa urban households • Current production and consumption of charcoal are mostly unsustainable • Charcoal has negative environmental, social, and health implications to those who produce and consume it Child labor is the rule rather than the exception for many charcoal producers in the Tropics

3. In the last century, charcoal production and use in the Tropics has not changed nor has it gone away. Charcoal remain persistent and problematic, marred by policies that have failed to achieve their objectives over and over and over again. Sudan, 2009 Recent initiatives to combat climate change and alleviate poverty present new opportunities to address the charcoal problem holistically. México, 2009 The Arusha Symposium & Workshop in June 2011 will bring a diverse array of charcoal researchers, producers, policy makers, and visionaries to begin discussing these questions and to plan International Charcoal Conferencein 2012 that addresses key issues and viable solutions identified in Arusha.

4. Where and When? Highlights: 600+ participants expected in Arusha 2011 Diverse set of world renown experts on charcoal will present in the Symposium Delegates from key Tanzanian ministries dealing with charcoal (Energy, Environment, Forests) will attend East African charcoal producers will share their experiences and visions Presentations on the potential for sustainable charcoal to participate in carbon markets Opportunities for collaborations and networking Planning for a 2012 International Conference on Charcoal The Symposium and Workshop will be held as a one-day event in the context of the Joint 2011 Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) & the Africa Section of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB Africa) (12 -16 June). The workshop will be in the form of a post-symposium meeting designed to allow presenters and invited guests to continue discussions stimulated by the presentations, identify key issues raised by the presentations, develop a working group to address key issues, and begin organizing a 2012 International Charcoal Conference

5. Symposium presentations will highlight the many facets of an old energy problem, but inspected under the light of new and highly innovative assessment tools and technologies

6. Expected Outputs: Identify key issues raised by the presentations Form a working group to address key issues Plan a 2012 conference that focuses on solutions for the charcoal sector Publish the Presentations in Special Issue of an ISI Journal We will identify a handful of plausible solutions & best-options for public policy, appropriate technologies and sustainable forest management