The role of land use in climate change – from CO2 source to cost-efficient mitigation

The present studies focus on the land use contributions to industrial-age carbon emissions and future abatement potentials. A practicable estimation scheme is presented to transparently identify the driving terms behind past emissions and future mitigation possibilities. Regarding the major emissions sources, 10 % of total present CO2 emissions are possible in tail of primary forest clearing outside of wood consumption; 3 % are attributed to desertification and peat cultivation; on the opposite, 5 % are counteracted by sequestration from forest gain. Regarding mitigation, prudent land use has the potential to reduce more than 50 % of all present anthropogenic emissions at approximate zero costs. Prerequisite is that biomass be considered a scarce resource and therefore, carefully supported and solely used in high-efficiency applications.

The importance of termites and fire to dead wood consumption in the longleaf pine ecosystem

Microbes, insects, and fire are the primary drivers of wood loss from most ecosystems, but interactions among these factors remain poorly understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that termites and fire have a synergistic effect on wood loss from the fire-adapted longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem in the southeastern United States. We predicted that the extensive galleries created by termites would promote the ignition and consumption of logs by fire. We exposed logs from which termites had or had not been excluded to prescribed fire after 2.5 years in the field. We found little support for our hypothesis as there was no significant interactive effect of termites and fire on wood mass loss. Moreover, there was no significant difference in mass loss between burned and unburned logs. Termites were responsible for about 13.3% of observed mass loss in unprotected logs, a significant effect, while microbial activity accounted for most of the remaining mass loss. We conclude that fire has little effect on wood loss from the longleaf pine ecosystem and that termite activity does not strongly promote wood combustion. However, longer term research involving multiple burn cycles, later stages of decay, and differing fire intensities will be needed to fully address this question.

Micro-Level Study of Deforestation in the Capital Terrotory of Pakistan

Wood products are better than artificial material, products when evaluating with environmental concerns, but our World's forests cannot be compromised for these products. As the increasing demand for wood product leads to deforestation, more rapid tree cutting even without permits and cause threat to human health and wildlife. The current study estimates the percentage of wood cutting and gives a comparison of green cover for a period (2009-2016) in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), Islamabad. Scale and after math of wood harvesting is a major area of concern. The wood consumption by villagers of MHNP, the role of authorities and communities to safeguard MHNP and its effects are also studied by incorporating villagers and forest guards' point of view through questionnaire and interviews, respectively. The forest cover of MHNP is reduced at high percentage due to deforestation and different land use pattern. It needs to be monitored and taken as the responsibility of the government and the public to protect forests.

Tree Conservation Challenges among the Indigenous Pastoral Rendille Community in Marsabit, Kenya

Every environment is surrounded by traditional people who have lived in the geographic location for a long time and use their particular knowledge to cohabit with the natural ecosystem. This study assessed challenges encountered towards tree conservation by the Rendille pastoral community in Kenya. Selected tree species; Olea europaea, Terminalia sp. and Hyphaene compressa, that are commonly used by the community were identified and the probable threats towards their conservation. Some of these tree conservation challenges by the indigenous Rendille were: charcoal burning and fuel wood consumption, demand of traditional tree medicinal value, climate variability extremes and demand for land for settlement by the community. The results indicate that, charcoal burning (84.4%) and demand for traditional tree medicine (77.3%) were leading causes frustrating tree conservation among the Rendille. To mitigate these challenges, the respondents indicated that, creation of awareness (89.1%) and promotion of other sources of fuel (78.9%) could be vital factors. The study recommends Integration of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) with formal education to enhance conservation of the mentioned tree species.

Sustainable forest management and forest products industry development in Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to examine existing knowledge on forest products development and to promote sustainable forest management in Ethiopia. Furthermore, the paper aimed to assess the development and status of Ethiopia's forest products industry in terms of resource base, manufacturing and marketing. It was found that the current annual fuelwood consumption is about 133M m3, with 90% of cooking energy obtained from woody biomass. Wood consumption for primary and secondary forest products manufacturing is expected to increase from the current 112M m3 to 158M m3 by 2033. This review reveals that the development and innovation of a sustainable forest products industry in Ethiopia should balance the production and ecological functions of forest resources. To meet Ethiopia's primary and secondary forest products needs, it is recommended that a clear policy framework be advanced and promoted, including wood technology, forest science and education, silviculture, and post-plantation management practices.

Assessment of Fuel Wood Energy Demand of Arba Minch Town, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The current rate of deforestation in Ethiopia is exacerbated by number of factors including increased rate of population, increased fuel wood consumption, urbanization, infrastructure development, etc. However, fuel wood energy requirement is one of the major problems causing deforestation. The current study was conducted during 2017 with the objective to estimate the fuel wood consumption of Arba Minch Town. To achieve this objective a household survey was conducted in the town. Out of 11 kebeles of the town four were selected purposely. 58 household respondents were selected for the study. People of the area using fuel wood for various purposes such as cooking, for lighting and for selling as source of income. Arba Minch forest is the source of fuel wood for majority of the households. On average basis, single house hold is using 4.01 kg of fuel wood day-1. The fuel wood consumption of other user such as hotels, govt. institutions were also recorded by conducting survey in four sub cities. Among different user group of fuel wood in the town fuel wood consumption by individual HHs were maximum (66 t day-1 or 24090 t year-1) followed by hotels (2.65 t day-1 or 969.08 t year-1) and lowest by government institutes (110 t day-1 or 40.15 t year-1). Thus, total consumption of fuel wood in Arba Minch town is 68.78 t day-1 or 25,099.23 t year-1. The demand for fuel wood consumption is in increasing trend. This growing demand of fuel wood from household is posing a threat to the remaining natural forest and associated wildlife and resources. Therefore, it is recommended that there is a need of adoption of alternative sources of energy which can replace fuel wood energy. Thus community participation in forest protection should be encouraged and illegal consumption of fuel wood in the study area should be checked.

Application strategies by selective medium treated with entomopathogenic bacteria Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as potential biocontrol against Coptotermes curvignathus

The success of microbial termiticides in controlling termites depends on the ability of microbes to grow in different media and the functionality of the microbes as a resistant barrier or toxic bait. This study was conducted to understand the mortality rate and behaviour changes of the subterranean termite Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren introduced with different concentrations of Serratia marcescens strain LGMS 1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain LGMS 3 using wood and soil as bacterial transfer medium. In general, higher concentration of bacteria in soil caused a reduction in tunnelling activity and wood consumption and an increase in mortality. However, application on wood revealed a different outcome. Wood treated with S. marcescens of 10 6 CFU ml −1 concentration proved to be more efficient as bait than higher concentration applications as it caused a high mortality rate while still highly palatable for termites. Wood or soil treated with S. marcescens concentration higher than 10 9 CFU ml −1 creates a high toxicity and repellent barrier for termites. Pseudomonas aeruginosa of 10 9 CFU ml −1 concentrations applied on wood served as a slow-acting toxic bait. However, the ability for S. marcescens and P. aeruginosa to survive on wood is low, which made the bait unable to retain a useful level of toxicity for a long period of time and frequent reapplication is needed.

Impact of the use of low-energy stoves on the depletion of wood resources in the division of Mandelia in Chad

In Chad, some households and artisans continue to rely on wood and charcoal, which seriously degrades plant resources. In this context, household extension activities for improved stoves have been reinforced with low-energy types of stoves in certain localities located in the wood energy supply basin of the city of N'Djaména from 2003 to 2013 by the AEDE (Agency for Domestic Energy and the Environment). It is following this popularization of improved stoves that this study, which aims at the rational and sustainable use of wood resources, evaluated the consumption of wood energy in two categories: craftswomen of 'Bili-Bili' and craftsmen of 'Tchélé' in November 2016, in Mandelia. Data from forest inventories in the study area reviewed, as well as surveys among these targeted artisans, enabled the estimation of their wood energy consumption. The results show that the use of the 'Kiva-Base' improved stove adopted by 36% of the brewers resulted in a reduction of 62 kg/d/craftsman of 'Bili-Bili'; a 35% reduction in wood consumption. Among the 48% of meat grillers that adopted the 'Sewa' improved stove, a reduction in wood energy of 63 kg/d/craftsman of 'Tchélé' was recorded, representing a 30% reduction in wood consumption. This reduction in wood energy consumption represents a considerable positive impact on the conservation of wood resources in Mandelia. This work can be extended to other localities where the concentration of these craftsmen is higher for a sustainable management of wood energy. Au Tchad, certains ménages et les artisans continuent par s’approvisionner en bois et charbon de bois ; ce qui dégradent sérieusement les ressources végétales. Dans ce contexte, des actions de vulgarisation des foyers améliorés dans les ménages ont été renforcées avec des types de foyers à basse consommation d’énergie dans certaines localités situées dans le bassin d’approvisionnent en bois-énergie de la ville de N’Djaména de 2003 à 2013 par l’AEDE (Agence pour l’Energie Domestique et l’Environnement). C’est à la suite de cette vulgarisation des foyers améliorés que cette étude qui vise l’utilisation rationnelle et durable de ressources ligneuses a évalué la consommation en bois-énergie chez deux catégories : artisans de ‘Bili-Bili’ et artisans de ‘Tchélé’ en novembre 2016, à Mandelia. Les données sur les inventaires forestiers de la zone d’étude passées en revue ainsi que des enquêtes chez ces artisans ciblés ont permis d’estimer leur consommation en bois-énergie. Les résultats montrent que l’utilisation du foyer amélioré de type ‘Kiva-Base’ adopté par 36% des brasseuses a permis de réduire 62 kg/j/artisan de ‘Bili-Bili’; soit une réduction de 35% en consommation de bois. Chez les 48% des grilleurs de viande qui ont adopté le foyer amélioré de type ‘Sewa’, une réduction en bois-énergie de 63 kg/j/artisan de ‘Tchélé’ a été enregistrée ; soit une réduction de 30% en consommation de bois. Cette réduction de consommation en bois-énergie représente un impact positif considérable sur la conservation des ressources ligneuses à Mandelia. Ce travail peut être étendu à d’autres localités où la concentration de ces artisans est plus élevée pour une gestion durable en bois-énergie.