From forest decline to climate change: environmental perceptions and awareness among charcoal producers in the Savannah zone of northern Ghana

The Guinea Savannah woodlands of Ghana face rapid degradation from charcoal production, agricultural expansion, and bushfires. Grounded in the Awareness-to-Action model, this study investigates how charcoal producers perceive forest decline and climate change, and how these perceptions influence environmental behaviour. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 150 households across Builsa South, Sissala East, and West Mamprusi districts, complemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Findings reveal high environmental awareness: over 90% of producers acknowledged that charcoal production contributes to degradation, while 74% and 67% reported reduced rainfall and increased temperatures, respectively. Despite this, adoption of sustainable practices like tree replanting and improved kiln use remains limited, reflecting a persistent awareness–action gap. While education and experience significantly predict awareness, institutional weaknesses, poor enforcement, and inadequate livelihood alternatives undermine behavioural change. Results challenge the notion that charcoal producers are environmentally ignorant; rather, they are constrained by structural and economic realities. The study concludes that awareness alone is insufficient to promote sustainability. Strengthening participatory forest management, improving access to efficient technologies, and integrating producers into formal value chains are vital to aligning environmental consciousness with sustainable action in Ghana’s charcoal sector.