This presentation by Dr. Davison Gumbo, a scientist and Zambia project leader of CIFOR focuses on sustainable charcoal production: what the goals of the study were, how it was conducted and what the findings were.

1. Charcoal Production:
Can it be a sustainable enterprise?
Dr. Davison Gumbo
Scientist and Zambia Project Leader
Venue, 21st May 2013

2. Outline
 Background
 Goal and Objectives
 Methods
 Highlight Study
Findings
 Recommendations

3. Background
 Miombo and other associated
woodlands is resources for charcoal
and timber production and nontimber forest products (NTFPs).
 Charcoal, timber and NTFPs provide
direct support to rural and urban
livelihoods in Zambia.
 Charcoal and timber provide a
basis for potentially viable
forest-based enterprises.

4. Background – Cont …
 Study on dynamic of the charcoal and
indigenous timber trade in Zambia.
 Supported by the Embassy
of Finland in Zambia.
 Six districts in Eastern,
Northern (Muchinga)
and Northwestern
Provinces.

5. Goals of the study
Identify and characterize the social, economic
and environmental issues pertaining to
charcoal and timber production and trade in
Zambia as well as the implications of the
nascent regional charcoal industry.

6. Methodology
Literature
review
Field based
research

7. Finding Highlights
Charcoal Production,
Consumption and Trade

8. FINDING
Policy and
regulatory
framework in place
and adequate but
lack of resources
(human and
financial).

9. FINDING
Charcoal widely
produced across
Zambia.

10. FINDING
Charcoal a major energy
source for urban areas in
Zambia.

11. FINDING
 Drivers of charcoal
production.
• Poverty
• Limited employment
•
opportunities
Quick and easy business

12. FINDING
Livelihood and other
socioeconomic benefits not
openly acknowledged.

13. FINDING
 Markets, charcoal
flows and
transportation.

14. Can charcoal production
be a sustainable enterprise?

15. Recommendations
 Establish a conducive policy
environment for local level
institutions to manage forests.
 Develop local rules and
guidelines for managing forests
for charcoal production.
 Encourage local level institutions
to take a greater interest in the
management of forests.
 Incentive for sustainable
charcoal product accrue to forest
“owners.”

16. Recommendations – Cont …
 Collaboratively develop schemes
of sustainable charcoal production
with charcoal producers based on
lesson learnt particularly in
customary areas.
 Provide special support to women
charcoal producers to ensure they
work in sustainable way and
within the confines of the law.
 Urban consumers should be part
of the debate/discussion on
charcoal production and
utilization debate.

17. Recommendations – Cont …
 Improve understanding on the
implications of charcoal and
timber production on the
forests.
 Provide capacity building to
charcoal producer particularly
on organizational, technical
and business training.
 Research should be stepped up
to come up with alternative
feedstock for charcoal
production e.g, bamboo.

18. Thank you