Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal Production
Although charcoal production is a source of income, it is often associated with deforestation due to the felling of trees in rural areas. In this study, we quantified the yield of carbonization in the rural area of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), and identified its determina...
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/3/554 |
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| author | Nathan Kasanda Mukendi Héritier Khoji Muteya Dieu-donné N’tambwe Nghonda Fabio Berti Yannick Useni Sikuzani Laurent Ngoy Ndjibu Jean-Paul Katond Mbay Jules Nkulu Mwine Fyama Philippe Lebailly Jan Bogaert |
| author_facet | Nathan Kasanda Mukendi Héritier Khoji Muteya Dieu-donné N’tambwe Nghonda Fabio Berti Yannick Useni Sikuzani Laurent Ngoy Ndjibu Jean-Paul Katond Mbay Jules Nkulu Mwine Fyama Philippe Lebailly Jan Bogaert |
| author_sort | Nathan Kasanda Mukendi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although charcoal production is a source of income, it is often associated with deforestation due to the felling of trees in rural areas. In this study, we quantified the yield of carbonization in the rural area of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), and identified its determinants. By analyzing 20 kilns of professional producers in different villages, we found that these charcoal producers build large kilns, which contained an average of 46.9 ± 21.5 m<sup>3</sup> of wood from 19 species of Miombo woodland trees, with a predominance of <i>Julbernardia paniculata</i> (Benth.) Troupin, alongside <i>Brachystegia microphylla</i> Harms and <i>B. spiciformis</i> Benth. The average carbonization yield was 10.2%, varying from village to village due to parameters such as kiln size, quantity of wood used, kiln coverage time, wind exposure, substrate type, and tree species. It was noted that the moisture content and dimensions of the wood did not significantly correlate with the quantity of charcoal harvested per kiln. Yield improvement should, therefore, take these parameters into account to enable charcoal producers to increase their income while adopting sustainable production practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:15:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a71a262e16c4cd19d8dd36e43f7fc49 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:15:55Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a71a262e16c4cd19d8dd36e43f7fc492024-03-27T13:41:55ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072024-03-0115355410.3390/f15030554Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal ProductionNathan Kasanda Mukendi0Héritier Khoji Muteya1Dieu-donné N’tambwe Nghonda2Fabio Berti3Yannick Useni Sikuzani4Laurent Ngoy Ndjibu5Jean-Paul Katond Mbay6Jules Nkulu Mwine Fyama7Philippe Lebailly8Jan Bogaert9Research Unit in Economics and Agricultural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the CongoEcological Restoration, and Landscape Unit, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the CongoEcological Restoration, and Landscape Unit, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the CongoResearch Unit of Economics and Rural Development, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumEcological Restoration, and Landscape Unit, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Economic and Social Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Electromechanics, Polytechnic Faculty, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the CongoResearch Unit in Economics and Agricultural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the CongoResearch Unit of Economics and Rural Development, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumBiodiversity and Landscape Axis, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumAlthough charcoal production is a source of income, it is often associated with deforestation due to the felling of trees in rural areas. In this study, we quantified the yield of carbonization in the rural area of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), and identified its determinants. By analyzing 20 kilns of professional producers in different villages, we found that these charcoal producers build large kilns, which contained an average of 46.9 ± 21.5 m<sup>3</sup> of wood from 19 species of Miombo woodland trees, with a predominance of <i>Julbernardia paniculata</i> (Benth.) Troupin, alongside <i>Brachystegia microphylla</i> Harms and <i>B. spiciformis</i> Benth. The average carbonization yield was 10.2%, varying from village to village due to parameters such as kiln size, quantity of wood used, kiln coverage time, wind exposure, substrate type, and tree species. It was noted that the moisture content and dimensions of the wood did not significantly correlate with the quantity of charcoal harvested per kiln. Yield improvement should, therefore, take these parameters into account to enable charcoal producers to increase their income while adopting sustainable production practices.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/3/554pyrolysisdeforestationcharcoalMiombo woodlandenvironment |
| spellingShingle | Nathan Kasanda Mukendi Héritier Khoji Muteya Dieu-donné N’tambwe Nghonda Fabio Berti Yannick Useni Sikuzani Laurent Ngoy Ndjibu Jean-Paul Katond Mbay Jules Nkulu Mwine Fyama Philippe Lebailly Jan Bogaert Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal Production Forests pyrolysis deforestation charcoal Miombo woodland environment |
| title | Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal Production |
| title_full | Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal Production |
| title_fullStr | Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal Production |
| title_short | Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal Production |
| title_sort | quantification and determinants of carbonization yield in the rural zone of lubumbashi dr congo implications for sustainable charcoal production |
| topic | pyrolysis deforestation charcoal Miombo woodland environment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/3/554 |
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