AGROFORESTRY AND WOODFUEL PRODUCTION:
SOME DATA FROM AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN AFRICA
.
Results
In addition to traditional studies of AFS, which often
focus on their agricultural and pastoral productivity or
their environmental services, it would be desirable to
launch more research on their wood energy
productivity.
This would help to better understand the interests of
farmers, devise more productive and profitable
systems, and orientate the energy policies of the South.
This research may also inspire scientists working in the
North, where the use of wood energy is becoming
increasingly topical and where data on the wood
energy production of agroforestry systems are very
rare.
Conclusion
Régis PELTIER
1
References
3
Centre International de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement
CIRAD-ES-UR-BSEF), Montpellier, France (
peltier@cirad.fr
)
Introduction
Discussion
This set of data on the
productivity of AFS is a first
step forward.
The data clearly show the
socio-economic importance of
these systems for the supply of
wood energy to African
populations.
However, precise production
figures remain elusive as
studies have been carried out
either on small plots or over
large surface areas on the
basis of limited inventories.
Material and methods
In the past, fuelwood production played an important economic role in European
agroforestry systems (AFS), as was the case in the Cevennes in southern
France. Wood pruned or pollarded from chestnut, ash and fruit trees was used for
heating and cooking. Very little data have been published on the quantities of wood
that were produced, but p.c. indicate values of about 2.4 t/ha/year.
In many African countries, farmers harvest most of their fuelwood in their own fields
and pastures. Yet although numerous studies have been conducted, few figures
have been published about the actual productivity of African AFS.
.
With the support of WB, AFD and FFEM, projects are developing wood energy
master plans to supply African cities. Researchers are being asked to provide figures
to estimate fuelwood production in the anthropized areas which cover most of these
cities’ supply basins. CIRAD and its partners have conducted a number of studies
that provide an initial assessment of the productivity of AFS in Africa.
.
Agroforestry systems
in St-Pons, West Cevennes,
Southern France
Faidherbia albida parkland
in Sirlawe,
North Cameroon
Logging a plantation of
Acacia senegal to produce
fuelwood before planting
corn, North Cameroon
Wood harvested in a fallow
enriched by planting
A. auriculiformis, conditioned
for making charcoal,
D.R.Congo
Harsh pollarding of Faidherbia albida
due to lack of fuelwood,
North Cameroon
Regrowth of young
branches on a Faidherbia
one year
after pollarding
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