Somaliland is a predominantly arid and semi arid region with the bulk of the population surviving on livestock and pastoral mode of production for survival.

In light of Resource based conflicts, Somaliland is currently faced with challenges emanating from unprecedented exploitation of forest resources for charcoal production. This practice has led to incidences of conflict and violence between pastoral communities who are currently competing with charcoal producers for pasture and vegetation for grazing and browsing. The underlying perceptions that explained this practice as a coping strategy was the livestock ban imposed on Somalia by the Gulf Countries especially Saudi Arabia in 2000.

Coupled with other natural disasters, conflict, lack of sensitive policy structures and management institutions, the ban is argued to have undermined the coping strategies for a region that relies primarily on livestock trade and export. The livestock ban was and continues to be taken up by CSO as a rights issue and one that is undermining the ability of pastoral communities in Somalia from attaining their full potential and hence their growing vulnerability and powerlessness.

The collapse of the livestock market and therefore paralysis of the livelihood base has been the argument behind the growing practice of logging for charcoal production. This has pitted the pastoral communities in conflict with charcoal producers given the competition for browsing, grazing space and vegetation between the two modes of production. The two concerns have and were also noted as being key RBC issues in Somaliland and where deliberate discussions with key stakeholders has to be initiated for sustainable livelihood development and environmental rehabilitation. To achieve this however, calls for a concerted effort in exploring alternative livelihood options for pastoral communities while empowering them to translate their assets into income functionalities.