Sustainable Tree Management for Charcoal Production in Kenya

Abstract

Biomass, particularly fuel wood and charcoal, provides more than 14% of the world’s total primary energy and plays a critical role in meeting the energy requirements of developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya it is estimated that 90% of rural households use fuel wood or charcoal, with fuel wood meeting the energy needs of over 93% of rural households, and charcoal being the dominant fuel in urban households. Biomass energy resources, in the form of trees, are derived from forests - closed forests, woodlands, bush lands, grasslands, farmlands and plantations as well as from agricultural and industrial residues. Currently there is a growing imbalance between biomass energy supply and demand, with a deficit of almost 60%. This imbalance exerts considerable pressure on forest and vegetation stocks and accelerates the processes of land degradation and desertification. Charcoal production depends predominantly on woody biomass hence the rising demand for charcoal as a household fuel is associated with increasing levels of deforestation. To address this challenge, on-farm cultivation of fast maturing tree and shrub species which can produce high quality charcoal and adapt to a wide range of climatic conditions is crucial. This publication discusses some of the trees and shrubs that are suitable for sustainable charcoal production, for example Tarchonanthus camphoratusis (Leleshwa), Prosopis juliflora (Mathenge), Acacia drepanolobium (Whistling thorn) and bamboo. The publication also discusses case studies on best practices in tree management from Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. For example in Siaya County (Kenya) communities have raised Acacia polyacantha and A. xanthophloea trees through an initiative that started in 2002. The group of 545 farmers have set aside 240 hectares and planted woodlots for charcoal production on land pieces ranging from 0.5 – 3 acres (0.21 - 1.25 hectares with a 6-year harvesting cycle. In Kajiado County a private business known as Musaki Enterprises established a 2.5 acre (1.05 hectare) arboretum with a total of 24 tree species adapted to dry land. The initiative which started in 1996 focuses on innovative research on the production, management, and processing of wood and charcoal biomass resources. They also develop and produce new and original designs of energy efficient technologies that include charcoal and wood-burning cook stoves for households and small businesses. Efforts towards sustainable tree production and management for fuel wood and charcoal production are affected by various barriers and constraints. Land tenure for private land, trust land or state owned land can affect the production system if any conflicts in land ownership occur during the tree growing cycle. Lack of proper management plans as provided for under the Forests Act of 2005 can affect sustainable feedstock management. The arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya where majority of charcoal is produced are water deficient environments that experience challenges in vegetation growth and tree regeneration. This highlights the need for proper agronomic planning. In conclusion, since charcoal is an integral part of Kenya’s economy and socio-cultural life it is important to intensify sustainable tree production. Strategies for achieving sustainable tree growing for charcoal production include: — Ensuring successful charcoal production and marketing through implementation of existing charcoal policy guidelines and developing additional policies which encourage investments is improved charcoal processing technologies. — Encouraging establishment of woodlots of high density trees, promoting species of low density that are appropriate for briquetting, such as bamboo, and encouraging utilisation of agricultural residues and industrial residues such as sawdust and bagasse for fuel. — Promoting the use of improved charcoal kilns (with efficiency of more than 25%); currently majority of charcoal producers use the traditional earth kilns with 10-20% efficiency. — Encouraging the use of dry wood during carbonisation and promoting appropriate technologies that are simple, affordable and easy to adopt. — Promoting energy conservation through the use of improved cook stoves with higher efficiency levels. — Streamlining the charcoal value chain through collaborative action among all players in the sector, including farmers. — Enhancing implementation of land use regulations and guidelines, especially where changes in land use occur.