For centuries Somali culture has been shaped by the weather. Forecasters, called "Xidaars," are the most respected members of communities. Using an ancient combination of Persian and African astronomy to herald the rain and warn of oncoming drought, they define the crop and livestock cycles for pastorally based Somali communities. Although Somalis are no strangers to devastating droughts, uncertainty about weather patterns are rising with the temperature.

As the climate changes and crops dwindle, not only is the validity of these ancient practices questioned, many Somalis are forced to find alternate means of income. The result is an increase in charcoal production, which further compounds the degradation of Somalia's forests and livelihoods.

"Drought cycles in Somalia are becoming more frequent and rain is just erratic. It's getting warmer and warmer and [agricultural] production has fallen because crops can't produce with these unpredictable seasons," said Ahmed Awale, Executive Director of Candle Light for Health, Education and Environment.

Created in 1995 by a group of dedicated social workers; Candle Light is one of the most active non-profit organizations promoting sustainable practices in Somalia. With projects in forest revitalization and soil erosion, Candle Light serves as a key actor in Somalia's efforts to cope with climate change.

But coping is not enough. As crops fade under the scorching sun and sheep surrender to thirst and heat, Somalis have been forced to seek out other means of generating income. The main result is an increase in charcoal production.

Charcoal is created by burning wood at high temperatures. The Bioenergy for Development report released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) stated that charcoal contains twice as much energy per ton as wood. It is easy to package, which makes it faster and cheaper to export. Taken together, these factors add up to the mass depletion of forests and woodlands.

Meanwhile, the harmful trade is perpetuated by foreign investors. A case study by the Information Center for the Environment (ICE) estimated that Somalia is producing over 150,000 metric tones of charcoal per year. Less than 20 percent of this charcoal is used domestically; over 80 percent is exported to Persian Gulf states. These foreign actors provide the monetary incentive for Somalis to continue burning their forests.

The decentralized government of Somalia makes it possible for this exploitation to continue. "The government is non-existent which just pushes this continuous vicious cycle of poverty," said Mr. Awale. "Climate change makes the cycle worse and so many people are weak, they just don't make it."

Mr. Awale added, "We know the charcoal is bad. It affects bio-diversity and wild life. But without crops and livestock we have no alternatives. The insecurities of the country are too great for us to focus on alternatives. Alternatives take time and money, we have neither of these."

Candle Light has partnered with numerous other aid organizations including the United Nations Development Fund, Care International, and the Food and Agriculture Association to gain support for the implementation of various environmental programs that will ease the effects of climate change and charcoal production.

Their efforts in reforestation are underway via seed dispersal initiatives and tree nurseries. To combat drought, Candle Light has built rock damns to reduce water runoff. They've also created numerous school environmental clubs and published a public newsletter, Deegankeena (Our Environment), to spread awareness and foster environmental education.

But without a more secure government and outside help, even the most active participants feel defeated in the eye of an uncontrollable change. "The future here is bleak," said Mr. Awale. "People are destroying the environment because of insecurities, but at the same time these insecurities are affected by the actions of the rest of the world. The developed countries have much larger carbon footprints than we do, and we are the ones suffering. The world must know what is happening to the poor people of the [Global] South."