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Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Carbonization is a highly energy-intensive process for converting biomass into solid fuel, especially in conventional systems without heat insulators. During the process, heat losses are unavoidable; thus, it is vital for utilizing insulators to minimize the losses. Clay, a naturally abundant and inexpensive material, could be used as an insulator. The corn cob carbonization process is carried out using a used oil drum as a carbonization kilns (reactor), with 200 L capacity and 1.25 mm thickness, by adding a Y-shaped pipe with a diameter of 100 mm in the center of it. The testing procedure involved coating one drum with a 1.5 cm clay insulator and leaving the other drum uninsulated. Each drum was then filled with 21 kg of dried corn cobs. A type K thermocouple is attached to the reactor's side wall and cover, and then connected to a Graphtec type GL240 datalogger for automated temperature measurement and recording. The study and analysis showed that in the absence of insulators, heat losses due to radiation and convection reached 3611.94 W (55.64%) during a 220-minute charcoal production (carbonization process). Meanwhile, when an insulator was used, the heat loss was reduced to 2320.69 W (35.75%) during the 170-minute charcoal production (carbonization process). Therefore, the utilization of clay insulators can result in 14.89% reduced heat losses and 22.73% shorter carbonization time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the environmental impacts of charcoal production in the Afram Plains region of Ghana, a forest-savannah transition ecosystem. Through a combination of remote sensing analysis, field surveys, and incorporation of local ecological knowledge, the research examines the extent of devegetation, depletion of tree species, and ecosystem degradation associated with charcoal production activities.The findings reveal the extensive scale of charcoal production, with over 2200 charcoal scars identified across the plain, and an alarming annual depletion of nearly 400,000 trees associated with a production of nearly 800,000 bags of charcoal. The indiscriminate felling of mature trees and low-efficiency traditional production methods have left vast areas in a degraded state.The study contributes to the literature by providing localized, species-level evidence of the impacts of charcoal production. It highlights the overexploitation of threatened species like Pterocarpus erinaceus (African Rosewood) and the concerning decline of economically valuable species like Nesogogordonia papaverifera and Erythrophleum africanum. Additionally, it identifies the resilience of Anogeissus leiocarpus, suggesting potential for sustainable use in charcoal production.The research underscores the urgency of addressing the challenges associated with charcoal production through multifaceted interventions, such as strengthening regulatory frameworks, promoting sustainable practices, facilitating reforestation efforts, engaging with local communities, and investing in research and data collection.By shedding light on the intricate relationship between anthropogenic activities and ecological dynamics, this study contributes substantively to ongoing discussions surrounding sustainable resource management and environmental conservation in vulnerable ecosystems.

Charcoal production is one of the main sources of households’ income in some part of rural Ethiopia. However, existing literature has rarely explored the presence of an entry barrier that might prevent the poorest from participating in this lucrative activity nor have they accounted for heterogeneity in the welfare effects of participation. To provide evidence for these issues, this study assesses the determinants of participation in charcoal production and its heterogeneous impact on household welfare using primary data from 390 households in selected rural villages of Awi zone, Ethiopia. This study uses a probit regression model to identify the determinants of participation and the quantile treatment effect (QTE) regression model to examine the welfare gap between participants and nonparticipants at different points of the welfare distribution and a decomposition technique to investigate whether the welfare gap is attributed to differences in characteristics or returns to these characteristics. Our probit model estimation result shows that poor households are less likely to participate in charcoal production, implying the existence of an entry barrier which may be attributed to the requirement of higher capital investment in the study area. Our QTE result suggests that participation affect welfare heterogeneously across the welfare distribution and the welfare gap is higher at the upper quantiles, suggesting that poor participants gain lower return from participation. Finally, our decomposition analysis reveals that the welfare gap exists due to coefficients effect. Although the results suggest the importance of policy to improve the participation of households in charcoal production for greater welfare, they also indicate the existence of uneven returns against poor participants.

Abstract Using biomass for charcoal production in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) may change carbon stock dynamics and lead to irreversible changes in the carbon balance, yet we have little understanding of whether these dynamics vary by biome in this region. Currently, charcoal production contributes up to 7% of yearly deforestation in tropical regions, with carbon emissions corresponding to 71.2 million tonnes of CO2 and 1.3 million tonnes of CH4. With a projected increased demand for charcoal in the coming decades, even low harvest rates may throw the carbon budget off‐balance due to legacy effects. Here, we parameterized the dynamic global vegetation model LPJ‐GUESS for six SSA biomes and examined the effect of charcoal production on net ecosystem exchange (NEE), carbon stock sizes and recovery time for tropical rain forest, montane forest, moist savanna, dry savanna, temperate grassland and semi‐desert. Under historical charcoal regimes, tropical rain forests and montane forests transitioned from net carbon sinks to net sources, that is, mean cumulative NEE from −3.56 ± 2.59 kg C/m2 to 2.46 ± 3.43 kg C/m2 and −2.73 ± 2.80 kg C/m2 to 1.87 ± 4.94 kg C/m2 respectively. Varying charcoal production intensities resulted in tropical rain forests showing at least two times higher carbon losses than the other biomes. Biome recovery time varied by carbon stock, with tropical and montane forests taking about 10 times longer than the fast recovery observed for semi‐desert and temperate grasslands. Our findings show that high biomass biomes are disproportionately affected by biomass harvesting for charcoal, and even low harvesting rates strongly affect vegetation and litter carbon and their contribution to the carbon budget. Therefore, the prolonged biome recoveries imply that current charcoal production practices in SSA are not sustainable, especially in tropical rain forests and montane forests, where we observe longer recovery for vegetation and litter carbon stocks.

In Somalia’s drylands, charcoal production is a major driver of forest degradation enabled by civil conflict and institutional weakness. Up to now, the extent and exact location of charcoal production has usually been estimated by visually detecting charcoal kilns on Very High Resolution (VHR) images. Taking advantage of the availability of a dataset of charcoal kilns delineated on VHR images by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) experts, we designed a computer vision (CV) approach to automatically identify charcoal kilns on VHR images. The methodology relies on a curated subset of the expert-labeled dataset and a collection of panchromatic and pan-sharpened multispectral Natural Color (RGB) VHR for the years 2018 and 2019. Kiln delineations paired with the VHR images are visually reviewed and used with a Faster R-CNN model, an object detection deep learning method. A two-stage methodology is used to train the best models for panchromatic and RGB images, respectively. The first stage uses a small number of high quality pairs to define the best parameters of the models while the second stage uses a larger set of pairs to fine tune the previous models. The results indicates that charcoal kilns are detected with a precision of 90% in panchromatic images and of 80% in RGB images. The models are then used to predict the presence of kilns over the available VHR images. Omission errors are prioritized over commission errors to mitigate the difficulty in detecting kilns in some specific situations. Comparison between the FAO expert kiln dataset and objects predicted by the CNN model is giving encouraging results. With a visual screening complementing the proposed workflow, CV can aid charcoal kiln monitoring in Somalia while alleviating manual work.

Using biomass for charcoal production in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) may change carbon stock dynamics and lead to irreversible changes in the carbon balance, yet we have little understanding of whether these dynamics vary by biome in this region. Currently, charcoal production contributes up to 7% of yearly deforestation in tropical regions, with carbon emissions corresponding to 71.2 million tonnes of CO2 and 1.3 million tonnes of CH4. With a projected increased demand for charcoal in the coming decades, even low harvest rates may throw the carbon budget off‐balance due to legacy effects. Here, we parameterized the dynamic global vegetation model LPJ‐GUESS for six SSA biomes and examined the effect of charcoal production on net ecosystem exchange (NEE), carbon stock sizes and recovery time for tropical rain forest, montane forest, moist savanna, dry savanna, temperate grassland and semi‐desert. Under historical charcoal regimes, tropical rain forests and montane forests transitioned from net carbon sinks to net sources, that is, mean cumulative NEE from −3.56 ± 2.59 kg C/m2 to 2.46 ± 3.43 kg C/m2 and −2.73 ± 2.80 kg C/m2 to 1.87 ± 4.94 kg C/m2 respectively. Varying charcoal production intensities resulted in tropical rain forests showing at least two times higher carbon losses than the other biomes. Biome recovery time varied by carbon stock, with tropical and montane forests taking about 10 times longer than the fast recovery observed for semi‐desert and temperate grasslands. Our findings show that high biomass biomes are disproportionately affected by biomass harvesting for charcoal, and even low harvesting rates strongly affect vegetation and litter carbon and their contribution to the carbon budget. Therefore, the prolonged biome recoveries imply that current charcoal production practices in SSA are not sustainable, especially in tropical rain forests and montane forests, where we observe longer recovery for vegetation and litter carbon stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charcoal production from Acacia decurrens has shown considerable advantages for enhancing livelihoods and boosting government revenue in Ethiopia. However, the current reliance on unsustainable traditional Earth mound kilns diminishes these benefits, causing reduced charcoal income and notable environmental damage. Therefore, there is a pressing need to improve the traditional charcoal production system. The objectives of this study were evaluating different improved charcoal production approaches on charcoal conversion efficiency, financial profitability, and gas emission reduction potential compared to traditional charcoal making in the Fagta lokoma district, Ethiopia. Charcoal was produced from Acacia decurrens small-scale plantation, using improved kilns (Green mad retort, MRV portable steel, Casamance) and traditional Earth mound kilns, with three replications of production. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in charcoal conversion efficiency (at P ≤ 0.001), with the MRV steel kiln exhibiting the highest efficiency (41.57%), followed by the Green mad retort (36.14%) and Casamance (34.07%). Conversely, the traditional Earth mound kilns displayed the lowest conversion efficiency (24%). The findings demonstrated that improved charcoal-making kilns enhanced wood-to-charcoal conversion efficiency by 41–72% compared to traditional kilns. Moreover, the study reveals a significant increase in average charcoal income per hectare (at P ≤ 0.001), with higher earnings (284,824.4 ETB) at MRV steel kiln, and lower-income (71,580 ETB) at traditional Earth mound kilns. Improved charcoal-making kilns significantly (P ≤ 0.001) reduced harmful gas emissions compared to the traditional Earth mound method. Reduction percentages were substantial for various gases: CO2 (46–57.9%), CO (29.4–56.6%), NO (61.7–86.1%), NOx (56.6–86.2%), SO2 (41–62.8%), and CH4 (35.7–57%). In coclusion, the improved kiln technology has substantially enhanced the efficiency of charcoal conversion, resulting in beneficial effects through emissions reduction. To champion sustainability and cultivate positive socio-economic outcomes, it is imperative to extensively adopt these eco-friendly kilns in areas where charcoal production is prominent.

Deforestation and other anthropogenic activities, including charcoal production affect several microbial activities and nutrients availability and status in the savannah forest soil of southwestern Nigeria. However, understandings of the microbial activities and soil nutrients availability in these sites have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the study aims to clarify the charcoal production effects on the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, nutrients status of charcoal production sites and the surrounding soils. Soil samples were collected to determine the microbial biomass contents in carbon and nitrogen (BC and BN), organic carbon of the soil (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), ammonium and nitrate nitrogen [(NH4+-N) and (NO3N)] in the soil layers between 0–15, 15–30 and 30 – 45 cm, under different locations of charcoal production and non-production sites (CPS and NPS) respectively. We found out that SOC, TN, C/N ratio, Bc and BN and the ratios of Bc/SOC and BN/TN were significantly higher in the NPS than in the CPS. The SOC, TN, BC and BN and the ratios of Bc/SOC and BN/TN declined significantly (P ˂ 0.05) with increase in depth in the two sites under different locations. However, NH4+-N and NO3N contents in the NPS were significantly lower compared to the CPS. The results of the analysis indicate better soil nutrients in term of SOC and TN in the NPS than CPS. It is therefore posited that NPS is healthier and can sustain soil microbial activities than CPS. Although, NPS is lower in inorganic nitrogen contents determined, CPS has the potential to reduce leaching of inorganic nitrogen and increases its availability in the derived savannah agro-ecological region of southwestern Nigeria. Effort must be made to mitigate the large-scale conversions of the native derived savannah forests for traditional charcoal production that contributes to environmental pollution; it is therefore useful to consider biochar strategy in order to mitigate global warming and manage soil health and productivity.

The study examined the rural women’s coping strategies against the effects of covid-19 pandemic in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Eight five respondents were randomly selected in seven communities for the study. The data was collected using frequency count, percentage, mean and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The result reveals that all the respondents (100%) were aware that covid-19 had been declared as a pandemic. The increase in price of goods and services (= 4.59) was the highest ranked perceived effect of covid-19 pandemic on the respondents. Rearing of animals (= 1.46) was the highest ranked coping strategy adopted by the respondents against covid-19. There is significant relationship between coping strategies and perceived effects (r=-0.207, p=0.057) at 10% level of significance. The study there recommended that there should be provision of more awareness on covid-19 pandemic and there should be creation of additional job opportunities in the rural areas for women who are affected by covid-19 pandemic.

The article contains the instruction for charcoalers and state officials supervising them, which was developed in 1826 by the Government Commission of Revenues and Treasury of the Kingdom of Poland. The document is provided with a historical commentary. The edited source contains information on charcoaling technology and the organization of charcoal production for the needs of government iron industry. The said instruction was in force between 1827-1828 and was withdrawn at the beginning of 1829. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Ecology is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Charcoal production is an essential energy source and income source for many people in low-income countries, such as Africa. Charcoal production is also associated with deforestation—a global issue that significantly affects the environment and ecosystems. Therefore, promoting strategies that can balance forestry protection and people's livelihoods in low-income countries is critical. This study investigated the factors affecting Zambia's rural households' participation in the natural regeneration (NR) program—the program initiated by the Forest and Farm Facility program (FFF) of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Zambia in 2015. Using household survey data collected from Choma District in Southern Zambia, this study used descriptive statistical analysis and a logit model to detect the factors that affect the use of the NR program. The results indicate that charcoal production enhances the livelihoods of rural households when forest conservation is reconciled with household income and forest-management methods that abandon traditional practices. Participation in the NR program seems to be mainly driven by household income. The results indicated that the relationship between forest-resource utilization and conservation in Choma is encouraging. The implementation of the Forest and Farm Facility program is recommended to be spread to other communities to improve both livelihoods in local communities and forest conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of urban charcoal consumption on tree cover loss in Ghana remains understudied, with limited data and inconsistent methodologies hindering a comprehensive understanding. This data article addresses these gaps by presenting a valuable dataset on charcoal production and its environmental implications in the Afram Plains of Ghana. A systematic data collection process was undertaken, encompassing 29 charcoal production sites across four communities: Tease, Odumasua, Anlo Fasso, and Forifori. Semi-structured interviews with community elders, chiefs, and charcoal producers provided insights into the historical context and local knowledge of charcoal production activities. The dataset includes a wealth of information, such as land use characteristics, the number of trees utilized for charcoal production, and measurements of tree stump diameters, lengths, and volumes. Local names and scientific identification of tree species were recorded, offering a detailed understanding of the vegetation impacted by charcoal production. The potential for reuse of this dataset is significant. Researchers can utilize the information to further explore the complex dynamics between charcoal production and tree cover loss develop evidence-based policies, and promote sustainable alternatives. By making this dataset publicly available, we encourage its reuse to support interdisciplinary research, enhance understanding of charcoal production's environmental footprint, and inform decision-making processes aimed at preserving Ghana's valuable vegetation cover., (© 2024 The Author.)

In many regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, charcoal plays an important role as energy source but is widely perceived as a major driver of deforestation and forest degradation. This narrative, however, is mostly based on research within primary production regions. Though space-borne remote sensing applications can be useful in monitoring such large-scale production modes, environmental effects of household-level production are less easy to assess. Therefore, the present study employs an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to assess the impact of small-scale charcoal production on the vegetation density in the immediate vicinity of production sites. The UAS data was complemented by field measurements and very high-resolution WordView-2 satellite imagery. This approach revealed only small differences between charcoal production sites and reference plots which were usually evened out after 20–25-m distance to the plot centre using a concentric ring analysis. Results further show that a distinction between different land-use practices is difficult, even with the high spatial resolution provided by a UAS. Thus, more research and new approaches are needed to evaluate the role of small-scale charcoal production in deforestation and forest degradation processes against the background of other human activities. However, to exploit the full potential of UAS for monitoring environmental effects in charcoal producing areas, official regulations need to be clearer and more reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data was gathered with semi-structured questionnaires from 492 charcoal producers in three rural communities (Adaprase, Komfourkrom, and Papaase) in the Bono East Region of Ghana. This study assesses the demographics of charcoal producers, species used for charcoal, and how producers intend to sustain the charcoal industry in terms of acquisition of wood resources/raw materials. Seven major species, namely Vitellaria paradoxa (Shea tree), Anogeissus leiocarpus (Kane), Pterocarpus erinaceus (Krayie), Erythrophleum ivorense (Potrodom), Afzelia africana (Papao), Parkia biglobosa (Sorono), and Daniella oliveri (Senya) were identified for charcoal production. Among these species, Shea tree was ranked first in exploitation and used by about 80% of the entire population of charcoal producers in the researched communities and puts the future of this species at risk if no intervention. Meanwhile, shea tree has been identified as a very high economic value in Ghana. In addition, people with various genders, educational backgrounds, and occupations were engaged in charcoal production, but most of them were male and between the ages of 15–47. Most charcoal producers intend to establish plantations to sustain the industry while others believe in natural regeneration of species. The charcoal industry serves as a major source of income for over 90% of the inhabitants in these communities and is it therefore not recommend-able to close the industry but incorporate interventions towards sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production agroforestry system (TACPA system) is a conventionally and uniquely adopted indigenous potential climate-smart agricultural technology (CSAT) in northwest Ethiopia. This study investigates factors determining farmers' adoption and intensity of use of the TACPA system using a descriptive statistic and a double-hurdle model. A total of 326 farming household heads were selected using multistage random sampling from two purposively chosen provinces. The descriptive statistics showed that 64.42% of the local farmers adopted the TACPA system, and the area covered by the adopter was 0.38 ha. Empirical estimates of the first hurdle revealed that credit, plot ownership, association, primary road distance, asset, farming experience, labor, family size, livestock, tenure, and marginal land influenced the adoption of the TACPA system. On the other hand, estimates of the second hurdle showed that the intensity of use of the TACPA system was determined by age, plot ownership, nativity, primary road distance use, livestock, tenure, secondary road distance, and experience. The complementarity between the adoption of the TACPA system and its intensity of use suggests the necessity of joint socio-economic policies to meet the priority needs of smallholder farmers of the study area and to disseminate the innovation to other parts of Africa with similar environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood and charcoal were key sources of energy during early industrialization in Europe (18th century), preceding the large-scale exploitation of fossil coal. Past timber harvesting implied land transformation and woodland resources management. Therefore, relict charcoal kilns and historical documents of forest management are important sources of information about past woodland composition and structure. However, ancient charcoal kilns are poorly documented in temperate woodlands in the lowlands of western Europe, especially combined with historical written sources. In this study, charcoal production was investigated in an area in NE France, by combining charcoal and historical sources analysis, along with innovative dating methodologies. Thus, by using both radiocarbon and optically-stimulated luminescence dating, we showed that the activity lasted until recent times (19th–early 20th centuries) and Carpinus was the dominant taxon in charcoal assemblage. Moreover, kiln attributes seemed to be independent of topographical variables. Woodlands in this area were subject to a coppice-with-standards management, where small diameter wood was preferred to produce charcoal and large diameter stems, mainly Quercus and Fagus, were traded as timber. The dominance of Carpinus is rather uncommon in charcoal studies but supports the importance of Carpinus as fuelwood since the Middle Ages, as confirmed by many written sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt to implement new charcoal-production technology in Palestinian villages in the West Bank, Jenin area, is examined in this research. The 'retort' system avoided air pollution associated with traditional kilns by recycling flue gases. The attempt was made against the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and life under Israeli military rule. The study analyzes the relationship between supporters and opponents of the new technology and the moves leading to rural development. Based on a survey, in-depth interviews and field observations, the research identifies environmental, political, socio-cultural and economic interests, power relations and the interdependence between conflicting parties. The findings reveal the leading hamulas' (extended families) use of resistance tactics against the technology to preserve their dominant status within the socio-cultural structure, while traditional kiln usage was prevented by Israel. As a consequence, new strategies were adopted by various parties. Flexible negotiation led to an agreed resolution that opened new opportunities of social mobility and brought economic and environmental prosperity to the rural area. The study contributes to the resistance to innovation theory in traditional rural communities. • Palestinian opposition to Israeli rule expressed by resistance to new technology. • Resistance tactics used to preserve leading hamulas' dominance of social structure. • Tobacco farming opened new opportunities of social mobility for the disadvantaged. • Flexible negotiation between conflicting parties led to sustainable rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey to assess the effects and sustainability of charcoal production on the local vegetation cover was conducted in the Sekyere Central District of Ashanti region from December 2017 to April 2018. The study involved the use of structured questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informants, secondary data and field observation by reconnaissance survey. The socio-economic survey was to identify who in the district is undertaking charcoal production as an economic venture, how widespread the activity is, and the preferred tree species being harvested to produce charcoal. In the field survey, the vegetation types in the study area were identified in a reconnaissance survey as secondary forests with increasing grassland. The relative abundance of tree species which could be used for charcoal production was also identified and quantified. A 640-meter square plot was delimited and divided into 64 square plots within each of which five-meter quadrats were marked at random and presence or absence was recorded for the individual tree species. The results of the study indicated that charcoal production is widely carried out throughout the district especially in the Afram Plains portion. It is practiced by the Akan and the Sissala ethnic groups who have very little education. Female producers (8%) were less than their male counterparts. Majority (73%) of the producers was 31 and above years whiles those of 30 years and below was 27%. The study revealed that most tree species are becoming rare and are only common in the protected area (Kogyae strict natures reserve) in the district.

Brazilian charcoal is produced from planted eucalyptus forest wood in traditional batch reactors. The ordinary technology applied in Brazil does not use pyrolysis waste gases, which leads to the loss of 30% of wood energy and decreases air quality. This study evaluated the synchronous use of industrial batch kilns, waste gas burning, and energy recovery to produce electricity. Three scenarios were analyzed: (S1) Eucalyptus charcoal production without gas burning (Base Scenario); (S2) with gas burning; and (S3) with gas burning and electricity generation. Since a eucalyptus forest can fix carbon into its biomass through photosynthesis and finally into charcoal, S1 was able to reduce 3402.5 kg of CO2-eq per Mg of charcoal produced, and S2 reduced 6453.1 kg of CO2-eq due to waste gas methane burning. Electricity production is environmentally positive for all evaluated environmental indicators thanks to gas pollutants destruction and renewable energy generation. For S1, a ratio difference of 6.3 was found between the output of renewable energy and fossil energy input during the charcoal life cycle. For a combined production of charcoal and electricity (S3), a ratio difference of 6.9 was found. Photochemical oxidation was the main impact which can be significantly reduced by adopting gas flaring. • LCA results of batch carbonization reactors working in synchrony with waste gas energy recovery are discussed. • Electricity production can significantly reduce charcoal life cycle impacts in all LCA evaluated categories. • Energy recovery has shown a very high life cycle energy output/input relation of 6.9 yr-1. • Methane burning and electricity generation reduced 3050,6 kg of CO2eq. per Mg of produced charcoal. • The main impact category is Photochemical Oxidation which can be 90% reduced by gas flaring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The charcoal stock in a forestry business is controlled based on the theoretical capacity of the masonry ovens (input) and shipped trucks (output). During the year, the company must monitor the stock for accountability reports and internal governance. This paper proposes a more efficient and precise survey method that overcomes the challenges of the common monitoring system in Brazil. In this study, a monitoring method based on digital stereoscopy from UAV images was implemented and evaluated. The results were compared with those of the traditional topographic survey based on RTK equipment. A multi-engine UAV, with an integrated global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) equipment was used to fly over and survey a masonry oven complex containing eight charcoal heaps. Two stereoscopic processing methods were applied: (1) very low quality and (2) high quality to image alignment, reconstruction of a dense cloud, facet count and a three-dimensional mesh creation. Low-quality products showed geometric deformities when compared to high quality, but resulted in estimations similar to the topographic survey. Results indicated that the volume estimation of the charcoal heaps using UAV derived orthomosaics can replace the conventional method of GNSS RTK surveys with considerable gains in stockpile volume accuracy, inventory frequency and labour safety. The high quality processing method registered improvements in geometric precision and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted in Banni grasslands to estimate the sustainability of different livelihood options practiced by pastoralist households. The sustainability of livelihood options was measured using a scale consisting of ecological, economic and socio-cultural parameters with 6 indicators each. The primary data were collected from 280 households in 12 villages in Banni grasslands between 2014 and 2019. It was found that there were 11 distinct livelihood options practiced in Banni grasslands: Banni buffalo based pastoralism, goat and sheep rearing, Prosopis juliflora based charcoal production, honey collection, gum extraction, embroidery, leather work, labour, services, tourism and trade. The sustainability of buffalo rearing was found to be highest on ecological, economic and socio-cultural indicators. Migratory pastoralism has evolved over five centuries adapting to climatic and man-made changes, has deep socio-cultural heritage and employed 70% households at present while generating highest revenues to individual households and the Banni economy. The economic sustainability of charcoal production was higher than the goat and sheep rearing whereas the ecological and socio-cultural sustainability of the latter was higher. Charcoal production employed 80% households (as primary and secondary enterprise) whereas goat and sheep rearing employed merely 3% households indicating the economic significance of the former enterprise. It was evident that economic sustainability was the immediate goal of individual pastoralist households to attain income, food and nutritional security. Goat and sheep rearing could provide an alternative to charcoal production while being more sustainable. Charcoal production was an adaptation strategy for livelihood security. Control of P. juliflora will have positive implications on the ecology of Banni grasslands and livelihoods of pastoralists. The recognition of community grazing rights of Maldharis over Banni grasslands would further augment this shift. Similarly, handicrafts (embroidery and leather craft) and trade offer sustainable alternatives to charcoal production in the context of expanding tourism and market access.

The study of archaeological remains of charcoal kilns is a fast growing field of research. The history and evolution of different types of (pre)historical charcoal production features is still poorly understood however. Based on a large number of radiocarbon dated charcoal kilns from Belgium and the Netherlands, covering c. 2500 years, a typology and chronology of charcoal kilns is presented. The oldest charcoal production features date to the late Iron Age, though many of these dates seem to suffer from an old-wood effect and might actually date to the Early Roman period. Both Iron Age and Roman period charcoal production is done in rectangular pit kilns. During the Early Middle Ages, there is a shift to circular pit kilns which become the dominant kiln type during the High Middle Ages. From c.1300 CE onwards, charcoal is no longer produced in pit kilns, but a new kiln type, i.e. the mound kiln is used. The size of the charcoal (pit) kilns decreases from the Roman period till c. 1300 CE when, with the use of mound kilns the volume of produced charcoal dramatically increases. These changes in kiln size most likely reflect changes in both the organisation, scale and technology of iron production in the Low Countries. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical ecology is an important tool in deciphering human–environment interactions imprinted on landscapes throughout time. However, gaps of knowledge still remain regarding the land use legacies hidden in the current Atlantic Forest landscape; and also regarding how this information can help management of the remaining forest cover. The social-ecological systems framework was applied to understand charcoal production in the urban forests of Rio de Janeiro, from the nineteenth to mid-twentieth century, and their current social-ecological legacies. Charcoal production carried out by former enslaved populations, allowed for rapid forest regeneration. Forest thinning instead of forest felling was carried out by small groups in these urban remnant forests, sparing large native trees and facilitating natural regeneration. Currently, more than one thousand former charcoal production sites are accounted for hidden underneath the forest cover. The forest landscape of today is a result of novel forest successional trajectories that recovered structural and functional attributes of the forest ecosystem. However, this came at the cost of social invisibility and marginalization of these populations. The management practices of charcoal production dispersed in the landscape is one of Rio de Janeiro's most important, albeit hidden, land use legacies. Currently, the forested landscape is comprised of regenerated forests, both structurally and functionally sound, though with significant changes in species composition including the introduction of exotic species throughout recent centuries. These urban forests are today a complex mosaic of novel ecosystems, with rich biocultural diversity, and together with managed lands and well conserved forest tracts, provide not only livelihood and sustenance for forest dwelling families, but also important ecosystem services for the entire population of Rio de Janeiro. We believe that these concepts and frameworks can offer practical solutions for urban forest management, taking into account the biocultural diversity of Rio de Janeiro, increasing awareness of sustainability and promoting food security.

The study of charcoal production pits (pit kilns), excavated in central Belgium, provides information on Early and High Medieval woodland dynamics and human impact on the forest composition in the Northwest-European Lowland. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal recovered from the kilns demonstrates two different phases of charcoal production, one during the Early Medieval period (c. 650 AD–950 AD) and one during the High Medieval period (c. 1040 AD–1260 AD). Charcoal identification shows that the Early Medieval kilns are dominated by beech (Fagus sylvatica) while the younger kilns are dominated by oak (Quercus sp.), indicating a shift in woodland composition. This shift is likely to be a consequence of the earliest charcoal production activities, which resulted in the degradation of the primeval beech-dominated forest to a secondary forest dominated by oak, and intermixed with other more light-demanding taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, public health measures were implemented globally. Early on, concerns grew that lockdowns and travel restrictions could have severe consequences, especially for marginalized communities in the Global South. In Sub-Saharan Africa, wood charcoal is not only an important cooking fuel, but provides income for many rural households. Despite its economic value, the charcoal sector is, however, largely unregulated and viewed exclusively as an environmentally damaging industry by policy makers and the public who make it responsible for large-scale deforestation. The present study employs a sustainable livelihood framework to assess the ability of charcoal producers in northwestern Kenya, to cope with a short-term shock such as the COVID-19 pandemic and preventive measures. It furthermore compares their access to health information to that of non-producers. A street survey of 139 respondents allowed to gain rapid insights into the realities of a group not accessible via online or telephone surveys. The results show that 87 % of charcoal producers face severe decline of this economic practice because of limited market access. These losses cause them food insecurities, while non-charcoal producers are more worried about social consequences of the restrictions. Though charcoal producers and non-producers feel equally well informed about the pandemic, producers are less likely to access reliable information channels than non-producers, resulting in an uneven distribution of health information across the community. By investigating the response of producers to an external shock and limited market access this study adds to the understanding of local vulnerabilities and the sustainability of rural livelihood strategies. This research argues for inclusive policy response to ensure consideration of the informal sector in crisis response as well as to provide adequate and low-threshold access to health information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood and charcoal were key sources of energy during early industrialization in Europe (18th century), preceding the large-scale exploitation of fossil coal. Past timber harvesting implied land transformation and woodland resources management. Therefore, relict charcoal kilns and historical documents of forest management are important sources of information about past woodland composition and structure. However, ancient charcoal kilns are poorly documented in temperate woodlands in the lowlands of western Europe, especially combined with historical written sources. In this study, charcoal production was investigated in an area in NE France, by combining charcoal and historical sources analysis, along with innovative dating methodologies. Thus, by using both radiocarbon and optically-stimulated luminescence dating, we showed that the activity lasted until recent times (19th–early 20th centuries) and Carpinus was the dominant taxon in charcoal assemblage. Moreover, kiln attributes seemed to be independent of topographical variables. Woodlands in this area were subject to a coppice-with-standards management, where small diameter wood was preferred to produce charcoal and large diameter stems, mainly Quercus and Fagus, were traded as timber. The dominance of Carpinus is rather uncommon in charcoal studies but supports the importance of Carpinus as fuelwood since the Middle Ages, as confirmed by many written sources.

The contribution of forest degradation to changes in forest carbon stocks remains poorly quantified and constitutes a main source of uncertainty in the forest carbon budget. Charcoal production is a major source of forest degradation in sub-Saharan Africa. We used multitemporal Sentinel-2 imagery to monitor and quantify forest degradation extent in the main supplying area of a major urban center of southern Africa over a 4-year period. We implemented an indirect approach combining Sentinel-2 imagery to map kiln and field measurements to estimate AGB removals and carbon losses from charcoal production. This work generated 10 m resolution maps of forest degradation extent from charcoal production in the study area at quarterly intervals from 2016–2019. These maps reveal an intense and rapid forest degradation process and expose the spatial and temporal patterns of forest degradation from charcoal production with high detail. The total area under charcoal production over the study period reached 26,647 ha (SD = 320.8) and the forest degradation front advanced 10.5 km in a 4-year period, with an average of 19.4 ha of woodlands degraded daily. By the end of 2019, charcoal production disturbed most mopane stands in the study area and woodland fragmentation increased in 70.4 % of the mopane woodlands. We estimated that charcoal production was responsible for 2,568,761 Mg (SD = 42,130) of aboveground biomass extracted from the forest and 1,284,381 Mg (SD = 21,075) of carbon loss. The magnitude of these figures underlines the relevance of charcoal production as a main cause of forest cover change and remarks the existing uncertainties in the quantification of forest degradation processes. These results illustrate the potential of multitemporal medium resolution imagery to quantify forest degradation in sub-Saharan Africa and improve REDD + Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification systems in compliance with international reporting commitments.

Copyright of Journal of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The rising demand for charcoal from industrialization during the eighteenth century led to the establishment of a large number of charcoal production sites (CPSs) within the woodland ecosystems of Europe. The CPSs still present today can be investigated to assess the past woodland composition in terms of taxa present and timber size, at a high spatial resolution. The present study was done in the northern Vosges region in France, an area of low mountains covered by woods with some important past industrial sites in several of its valleys. We aimed to investigate the possible role of topographical variables such as altitude and aspect in the distribution of CPSs and in the past distribution of tree taxa. Charcoal production sites were found, identified and sampled in four valley catchment areas, and a numerical model of elevation was used to compute the topography of the landscape. A total of 233 sites were recorded and anthracological (charcoal) samples from 121 of these were analysed. The radiocarbon dates of 20 CPSs range between the late 17th and the early twentieth century AD, which corresponds to the peak of industrial activity in this region. The spatial distribution of CPSs appears to increase in density close to streams, and 14 tree taxa were identified in the charcoal records, with Fagus and Quercus being dominant by far. Our results revealed the strong influence of the direction in which the slope faced on the taxon composition of the anthracological spectra. These results suggest that the local woodland stands which were used to supply the charcoal kilns depended on the local environmental conditions. Furthermore, the composition of the woodland has changed significantly over time, with more Pinus sylvestris at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a seasonal elemental characterisation of native lichens collected in rural areas of Portugal affected by charcoal kilns, using nuclear analytical techniques and electric conductivity. In autumn, it was possible to identify high levels of electric conductivity near the site with charcoal kilns due to higher oxidative stress of the lichens' membrane. Typical chemical elements associated with emissions of wood burning, such as S and P, also presented the highest contents near the charcoal kilns. However, the same phenomenon was not found in spring. Residential areas presented the highest levels of S and P probably due to the impact of biomass burning from home heating that occurred during the winter period. Overall, lichens were found to be enriched with elements that can be attributable to non-crustal sources, namely, sea salt spray (Cl and Na), fertilisers used in agriculture (P and Ca) and wood burning (P and S). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deforestation is a complex and dynamic process of widespread concern in sub-Saharan Africa that is influenced by a range of social, economic and biophysical factors. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse patterns of deforestation and its potential drivers in the Licuáti Forest Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot in southern Mozambique, between 1990 and 2016. Method: We performed image classification on Landsat imagery at six time steps and interviewed local community members to understand the spatial pattern and rate of forest cover loss over time. We also examined changes in the incidence of fire. Results: A substantial increase in the rate of deforestation since 1990 was detected in this vulnerable thicket vegetation. The probability of deforestation was significantly higher near the major roads, where houses are located. This suggests that the proximity of human settlements to the forest, and access to charcoal markets in urban areas, influenced the spatial pattern. Two key factors, charcoal production and the establishment of settlements and agricultural lands, were identified as proximate causes of deforestation. In addition, fires associated with these two causes might amplify the loss of forests in the area. Conclusions: Complex interactions between the drivers of deforestation and socioeconomic factors were suggested, as most of the charcoal produced in the region is transported to Maputo. Ongoing road improvements and infrastructural development in the region will likely accelerate the decline in forest cover in the future. This has implications for the biodiversity of the region as well as for the sustainability of local livelihoods, as they often depend on forest products for their daily uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The energy sector is the greatest contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Charcoal is a source of bioenergy which helps mitigate these emissions. Therefore, instruments that help in decision-making to consolidate more sustainable practices in the charcoal production process by quantifying the benefits obtained by adopting good practices are necessary. The objective of this study was to develop a system to calculate the carbon balance and the technical and economic feasibility in different charcoal production scenarios, which specifically serves Brazilian charcoal producers. The system's scope was defined with the support of scientific specialists and other professionals directly involved in the charcoal segment. The system's base was developed in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. After validating the methodology, the web system was programmed. The developed system is called "Charcoal System", and can be accessed through the URL www.charcoalsystem.com.br ; it has six data collection stages and the results are presented in four reports. The Charcoal System: i) assists charcoal producers in making decisions regarding environmental, technical and economic production issues; ii) it can be used as a tool for certifying the charcoal production process; and iii) it can help promote low-carbon activities in the charcoal production chain and in those that use this product as a raw material. In addition to these specific applications, it is expected that its use will promote transformations in the production forms and improvements in the quality of life of charcoal producers, converging with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. [Display omitted] • Charcoal System is an innovative management tool in the web system format. • The system calculates carbon balance and economic feasibility in charcoal production. • The system quantifies the benefits of adopting good practices in the charcoal sector. • The Charcoal System can help transition to a low carbon economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is the world's leading charcoal producer, mainly used as an energy source and reducing agent for iron ore in the pig iron and steel industry. Despite its vast production, much of the Brazilian charcoal production remains low-tech and inefficient, with limited utilization of by-products. To address potential environmental impacts, promote a circular economy, and reduce energy waste in the charcoal production chain, this study presents the benefits of using wood carbonization by-products through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The analysis was performed by comparing four scenarios: i) Current wood carbonization; ii) Wood carbonization with combustion of non-condensable gases; iii) Wood carbonization with energy recovering of non-condensable gases for electricity generation; and iv) Assessing the utilization of insoluble tar and biomass waste for generating additional electricity, and the use of Pyroligneous Extract (PE) in eucalyptus cultivation. The results demonstrate that by-product utilization prevents energy waste, with an estimated potential to generate 0.19–0.26 MWh per ton of charcoal in Scenarios 3 and 4. Furthermore, 3.3 t of CO2 eq./t of charcoal are sequestered from the atmosphere, and Scenarios 2, 3, and 4 can increase this amount by 5.06%, 6.7%, and 0.48%, respectively. This paper introduces an innovative assessment of PE utilization during eucalyptus cultivation, resulting in a 6.16% reduction in greenhouse gas emission and a 46.98% decrease in abiotic resource consumption, attributed to PE's potential to partially reduce pesticide consumption. [Display omitted] • Photochemical Oxidation is the main impact category due to CO emissions in carbonization kilns. • Potential to generate 0.19–0.26 MWh of electricity per ton of charcoal through by-products utilization. • Forest residues and insoluble tar increase electricity generation potential by 36%. • Charcoal by-products offset GHG emissions from 14 to 203 kg/ton of charcoal. • Pyroligneous Extract use leads to 6% lower GHG emissions and 47% decrease in abiotic resource consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charcoal was the primary fuel used for iron smelting and processing until the end of the 19th century. It was produced through burning piles of wood called charcoal kilns. The aim of the study was to identify and record traces of charcoal kilns related to past ironworks in the valley of the River Czarna (Małopolska Upland, Central Poland). Detailed analysis was conducted in areas adjacent to historical centres of iron processing in Maleniec, Kołoniec and Machory. A quantitative analysis of the traces of charcoal kilns in the topography was done based on DEM from airborne LiDAR. Soil profiles were analysed at the sites where traces of charcoal kilns were identified from DEM. Radiocarbon dating and palaeobotanical analyses were performed for selected charcoal from kiln remnants. In the study area we identified over 11,500 charcoal kilns. The radiocarbon age of these charcoals indicate that the charcoal kilns under study were used in the 15th, 18th and 19th century. Thus the results suggest that the iron industry in the studied area is c 100 years older than the historical written sources indicate. Palaeobotanical analyses show that coniferous trees were used for charcoal production. The large number of traces of charcoal kilns and their wide spatial distribution indicate that past charcoal production has had a significant impact on the environment and landscape change in the River Czarna valley and adjacent areas.