The charcoal sector constitutes an important source of employment and revenue for many tropical agroecosystems. Better understanding of the effects of charcoal-making is thus warranted to guide actions aimed at minimising environmental externalities. Conversion of trees to charcoal eliminates canopy effects associated with the living trees while at the same time creates new conditions in and around spots where the charcoal is produced due to increased concentration of pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM). It is unclear, whether such unintentional PyOM additions play a role in the abundance and distribution patterns of soil macrofauna. A study was conducted in South Nandi (Kenya) to assess effects of PyOM on soil macrofauna, taking advantage of abandoned traditional earth-mound charcoal kilns, where Croton megalocarpus Hutch. and Zanthoxylum gilletii (De Wild.) P.G.Waterman trees were used in charcoal making. Soil and soil macrofauna samples were collected at increasing distances from the centre of the spots. Total C, non-pyrogenic C (non-PyC) and total N progressively increased with increasing distance from the centre of the spots, whereas soil pH, pyrogenic C (PyC), available P and exchangeable K decreased. The number of earthworms and centipedes in Z. gilletii spots (119 and 14 individuals m2, respectively) was twice as high as in kilns where C. megalocarpus was used. Notably, while the number of earthworms in spots rich in Z. gilletii PyOM significantly increased with increasing distance from the centre of the spots, the opposite trend was observed for centipedes. In contrast, no significant differences in the spatial distribution of earthworms or centipedes were found in spots rich in C. megalocarpus PyOM. Furthermore, beetles, termites and crickets were significantly higher in C. megalocarpus than Z. gilletii spots, but sampling distance also had no significant influence. As hypothesised, source of PyOM played a major role in determining soil properties and macrofauna distribution patterns thus showing the value of abandoned charcoal-making spots in contributing to a mosaic of soil conditions that could ultimately affect soil productivity in tropical agricultural systems.
Tag: charcoal
Reducing forest degradation by managing bushfires in The Gambia
Key findings:
- Over 90% of bushfires in the Gambia are aggravated by human activities such as fuelwood and charcoal production, forest and farm clearing activities, pests and disease control, smoking, and increased fuel loads that accelerate fire spread
- Bushfires affect half of the Gambia forests, which are estimated at 423,000 hectares (about 47% of total land area), with 70% of them facing one or more forms of degradation
- In The Gambia, precipitation patterns are critical predictors of bushfire occurrence. Bushfires are highest during the dry and hot seasons and lowest during the rainy/wet seasons
- There is a wide human and institutional capacity gap in bushfire management in the Gambia, including an inadequate number of well-trained personnel, inadequate equipment and resources to suppress bushfires, inadequate communications and coordination on wildfire management, and lack of incentives towards preventing, suppressing and recovering after bushfires.
Cooking energy emancipation for women, children and mother nature: People-centered woodfuel and cleaner cooking innovations
This factsheet illustrates how we are changing lives and improving drylands through capacity development on sustainable household woodfuel systems. Our ideas and concepts merit catching on as a movement. Our systems thinking and theory of change address how to correct the lack of sustainability and inefficiencies along the entire supply and consumption chain while even recovering resources in the form of energy and biochar.
Agroforestry and sustainable woodfuel: Experiences from the Yangambi landscape in DRC
Key messages
- This brief describes the first efforts to integrate agroforestry with charcoal production in the Yangambi tropical forest landscape.
- Activities resulted in both increased food crop production and reforestation, as well as the establishment of producer-led local associations and greater collaboration between communities and local authorities.
- Demonstrating the benefits of agroforestry systems as a source of woodfuel, along with capacity-strengthening activities, are critical to the successful adoption of activities by communities, as is ensuring that all activities are participatory and inclusive in nature.
- Local land tenure and rights must be well understood, as well as how gender dynamics and cultural norms may impact uptake.
- Finally, understanding local governance systems and social norms is fundamental to ensuring sustainable results.
Cleaner Cooking with Charcoal in Kibera Informal Settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, and Its Implications for Livelihoods and the Environment
Woodfuel that is unsustainably sourced and inefficiently used results in negative environmental and health impacts. This study assessed charcoal use and resultant concentrations of indoor air pollutants (IAP) in an urban informal settlement while cooking with a Jikokoa stove (an improved branded charcoal stove) and medium and small-sized artisanal Kenya Ceramic Jikos (KCJs). Fuel stacking was prevalent with charcoal and kerosene being used by 25% of the studied households. Cooking with a Jikokoa stove reduced charcoal consumption by 6.4% and 26% compared to small and medium-sized KCJs, respectively. The small-sized KCJ reduced charcoal consumption by 21% compared to the medium-sized KCJ. The Jikokoa stove reduced concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) by 10% and 50% and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 6% and 77% compared to small-sized and medium-sized KCJs, respectively. The Jikokoa stove reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations by 15.6% compared to the medium-sized KCJ. The small-sized KCJ reduced CO and PM2.5 concentrations by 45% and 75%, respectively, compared to the medium-sized KCJ. In summary, small-sized KCJs are more effective than medium-sized ones, and Jikokoa stoves more effective than small-sized KCJs, making it the stove of choice. The more efficient charcoal stoves are, the more charcoal consumption and IAP can be reduced, mitigating environmental degradation, climate change and health problems associated with smoke in the kitchen. There is need for participatory research to scale improved stoves and upgrade local practices as they are cheaper and already embedded in the cooking culture.
Improvements in charcoal production and the environmental implications: Potential for the invasive Prosopis juliflora in Kenya
Charcoal is a common woodfuel in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Unsustainable wood sourcing and inefficient carbonization result into negative environmental impacts. This action research aimed at building the capacity for sustainable charcoal production including `improving the traditional earth mound kiln (TEK) that is used by 99% of charcoal producers in Kenya. Small stems and branches of the invasive Prosopis juliflora were used and produced quality charcoal with 28 kJ/g which will save trees. Improved earth mound kiln (IEK) increased charcoal yield by 49% per mass of sun dried wood fed into the kiln and reduced emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons by 40%, 49% and 44% respectively. Net charcoal yield by a mass of dry wood in TEK and IEK was 26.4% and 28.4% respectively. Communication and capacity development on sustainable charcoal benefit people and environment. Studies on sustainable charcoal and effects on dryland socio-ecological systems will be needed.
Regulatory compliance,motivations and capacities in charcoal production in Baringo and Kitui counties, Kenya
Illegality in the forest sector is a major threat to forest and tree resources. Governments have responded by imposing more regulations and restrictions, with little consideration given to motivations for noncompliance. In Kenya, the Forest (Charcoal) Rules 2009 – while considered significant progress toward regulating the industry – have failed to elicit sufficient compliance to formalize the value chain and stem illegality. This study aimed to investigate the mandates, capacities, motivations and drivers for compliance by members of charcoal producer associations (CPAs), while examining the incentive mechanisms required to increase compliance in the charcoal value chains in Baringo and Kitui counties in Kenya. The study found that CPA members were engaged in the charcoal business mainly due to a lack of alternative livelihoods.
The politics of the green economy in provincial Indonesia: Insights from coal and oil palm sector reforms in East Kalimantan
Key messages
- East Kalimantan province (Kaltim) has adopted and developed a long-term phased ‘green’ economic reform strategy that includes goals to limit coal production and increase agricultural productivity, particularly in the oil palm sector.
- One notable achievement of East Kalimantan’s green economic reform is the issuance of various regulations supporting low-carbon development that indicate a “politics of possibility” and an appetite for change from key actors across the political spectrum. The challenge ahead is how to mobilize key actors to implement these regulations as quickly as possible.
- We find that the enactment of regulations on post-mining landscape reclamation and rehabilitation was associated with well-organized public mobilizations, but coal remains central to East Kalimantan’s economy. For oil palm, the government is simultaneously promoting further oil palm development along with high conservation value forest protection – now a policy prescription with widespread support from members of the house of representatives and development partners.
- However, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government also seeks to maintain economic growth – meaning the province is unlikely to completely phase out coal mining and/or halt oil palm expansion in the near term.
- Clear and consistent policy directions from the national government, in combination with significant new global market signals, are required for more substantial provincial green economy reforms to proceed.
Using improved kilns to produce charcoal in Kenya: A practical guide
Restoring ex mining area using Pongamia pinnata in Central Kalimantan: a reclamation program alternative base on bioenergy species
Malapari (Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre) is an endemic species of Leguminosae from southeast Asia, Australia and Afrika. Malapari is one species alternative of Reclamation Program in PT Asmin Bara Bronang. The aims of this study are to know the growth and adaptation rate of Malapari in extrime area after charcoal mining and to introduce the malapari for a alternative species for reclamation program with bioenergy potential species. The research method used is the census method in areas planted with malapari at PT ABB which was observed from 2020 with parameters including malapari growth; survival rate; analysis of soil fertility; biodiversity and carbon estimate. The results showed that malapari growth on post-mining land was very rapid where within 4 years it increased in height by an average of 184,92cm with a diameter growth of 10.76 cm and a survival rate of 87,78%, above ground biomass 584,04kg (274,5kg carbon) with very good leaf growth in fresh dark green The condition of early soil fertility becomes increased after planting. The great hope in this program is that malapari can be an alternative species for post-coal mining forest restoration from local superior species of use that has the potential to be a bioenergy source.