Is charcoal production in Brachystegia-Julbernardia woodlands of Zambia sustainable?

Chidumayo, Emmanuel N.

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2019.04.010

Cited by 30 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Aboveground tree biomass (AGB) is an important variable used in quantifying and monitoring forest ecosystem services. Aboveground tree biomass in forest ecosystems is needed for many applications; it can be used to estimate the amount of carbon that forests can sequester or that can be emitted when forests are destroyed [1,2], it can be used to determine sustainable wood harvest [3], it provides information on how many resources are available for use [4], and it is important for assessing forest productivity [5,6]. For these and other applications, reliable and accurate biomass estimates are required.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia

Tetemke

Birhane

Rannestad

et al. 2019

Forests

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Dry Afromontane forests form the largest part of the existing natural vegetation in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, models for quantifying aboveground tree biomass (AGB) of these forests are rare. The objective of this study was, therefore, to develop local multispecies and species-specific AGB models for dry Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia and to test the accuracy of some potentially relevant, previously developed AGB models. A total of 86 sample trees consisting of ten dominant tree species were harvested to develop the models. A set of models relating AGB to diameter at breast height (DBH) or at stump height (DSH), height (H), crown area (CA), and wood basic density (ρ) were fitted. Model evaluation and selection was based on statistical significance of model parameter estimates, relative mean root-square-error (rMRSE), relative bias (rBias), and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). A leave-one-out cross-validation procedure was used to compute rMRSE and rBias. The best multispecies model, which includes DSH, CA, and ρ as predictors, explained more than 95% of the variability in AGB. The best species-specific models for the two dominant species, with DBH or DSH as the sole predictor, also explained more than 96% of the variability in AGB. Higher biases from the previously published models compared to the best models from this study show the need to develop local models for more accurate biomass estimation. The developed models allow to quantify AGB with a high level of accuracy for our site, and they can potentially be applied in dry Afromontane forests elsewhere in Ethiopia if species composition and growing conditions are carefully evaluated before an application is done.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia

Tetemke

Birhane

Rannestad

et al. 2019

Forests

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“…This study was conducted in the North-Western, Copperbelt and the Eastern Provinces of Zambia (Figure 1). The study provinces have Miombo vegetation, characterised by trees of the genera Brachystegia, Julbernadia and Isoberlinia [66,67]. These provinces receive annual rainfall ranging from 600 to 1500 mm [67][68][69].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study provinces have Miombo vegetation, characterised by trees of the genera Brachystegia, Julbernadia and Isoberlinia [66,67]. These provinces receive annual rainfall ranging from 600 to 1500 mm [67][68][69]. Additionally, the North-Western Province, Copperbelt and the Eastern Province are further characterised by considerable variation in the forest cover (i.e., the Copperbelt Province = 64.4%, North-Western = 74.5%, and Eastern Province = 17.5%) [70].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Household-Level Determinants of Participation in Forest Support Programmes in the Miombo Landscapes, Zambia

et al. 2021

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The need to protect forest resources from unsustainable, yet rational, human actions has attracted global attention. This is because smallholder dependence on forests can degrade forest resources and cause deforestation. While efforts to understand forest programmes and motivations to protect forests have increased in recent decades, there remains a limited understanding of household factors affecting participation in forest support programmes, especially in the context of high-pressure areas, such as the Miombo woodlands. This study was conducted in the North-Western, Copperbelt and Eastern Province of Zambia. In each province, we selected landscapes consisting of protected and non-protected forest areas. We administered structured interviews to 1123 households and used logistic regression to estimate determinants of participation. We found that better education, landholding size, increased share of forest income, cash crops and non-farm income, and access to forests and markets have a negative impact on participation in forest support programmes. Being located in landscapes with protected areas was positively associated with participation. We suggest that, in order to increase participation, forest programmes should focus on households with low levels of education, limited livelihood opportunities, and poor access to markets. Besides, programmes should provide incentives, including support for farm inputs and at the same time encourage reforestation and agroforestry methods.

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“…Charcoal is mainly produced in Africa and Asia by households with low income. In some countries the charcoal market accounts for more than 2% of the GDP [111], and the biomass demand is greater than the sustainable biomass growth [82]. To supply biomass for the industrial scale production, ecological and ethical criteria must be followed to avoid social tension.…”

Section: Socioeconomic Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Reductants in the Ferromanganese Alloy Production: A Review

2021

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This study examined the literature on life cycle assessment on the ferromanganese alloy production route. The environmental impacts of raw material acquisition through the production of carbon reductants to the production of ferromanganese alloys were examined and compared. The transition from the current fossil fuel-based production to a more sustainable production route was reviewed. Besides the environmental impact, policy and socioeconomic impacts were considered due to evaluation course of differences in the production routes. Charcoal has the potential to substantially replace fossil fuel reductants in the upcoming decades. The environmental impact from current ferromanganese alloy production can be reduced by ≥20% by the charcoal produced in slow pyrolysis kilns, which can be further reduced by ≥50% for a sustainable production in high-efficient retorts. Certificated biomass can ensure a sustainable growth to avoid deforestation and acidification of the environment. Although greenhouse gas emissions from transport are low for the ferromanganese alloy production, they may increase due to the low bulk density of charcoal and the decentralized production of biomass. However, centralized charcoal retorts can provide additional by-products or biofuel and ensure better product quality for the industrial application. Further upgrading of charcoal can finally result in a CO2 neutral ferromanganese alloy production for the renewable power supply.

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Is charcoal production in Brachystegia-Julbernardia woodlands of Zambia sustainable?

Cited by 30 publications

References 19 publications

Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia

Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia

Household-Level Determinants of Participation in Forest Support Programmes in the Miombo Landscapes, Zambia

Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Reductants in the Ferromanganese Alloy Production: A Review

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