Records are insufficient to objectively analyze the GHG emissions from making and using charcoal. This pollution, although believed to be major, remains statistically invisible to policy makers. The following illustrates the difficulty, and draws attention to the importance of knowing the extent of negative effects of the practice, and the benefits of using alternatives.
Measuring Charcoal Usage May Help Quantify Solutions
In the Philippines, the poor use locally produced charcoal two to three times daily. Although charcoal is a leading cooking fuel, it is not known how many families actually cook with it. In a 2009 paper, “The Use of Wood Fuel for Cooking Among Urban Households in Cebu City," Francisco M. Largo concluded that 42,997 metric tons of wood and charcoal are used by households to meet their cooking needs in Cebu City alone. (The Philippine Scientist, Vol 46).
Largo’s data omit the population of the test area of Cebu City (urban) while official census data is for the metropolitan area - a significant difference. Using Largo’s data to extrapolate to 18 million families (90%) in the Philippines who cook with charcoal, and assuming that each tree cut for charcoal making weighs 3,130 kilograms (wet), it requires two million trees per year. This is significant; therefore, the solution side for policy making may address the points:
- Do GHG emissions significantly decrease when using a pollution-free alternative?
- Could biochar be produced using biomass instead of killing trees?
- Could cooking fires be made to produce zero GHG emissions?
- Could agroforestry communities be beneficial?
- Could alternative biomass cooking fuel be provided for free?
Agroforestry May be a Solution to GHG Emissions From Burning Charcoal
When biochar is used, agroforestry may be GHG negative according to Ronal Larson, PhD, one of the founders and leading biochar researchers of USBI (see further reading). However, with regard to official data, Philip Small quotes David Laird, USDA-ARS' lead biochar researcher: “The diversity of biochar properties and potential interactions between biochar and various soil, climate and cropping systems is staggering” (National Society for Consulting Soil Scientists, Inc, last updated June 6, 2010).
Laird continues, “It is clearly premature for us to release guidelines or tables for what type of biochar to apply to what type of soil or even how to conduct tests on biochar.”
Biochar Can Help in Agriculture, Lessening Slash & Burn Practices
Biochar may be used on farmland that was previously forested to relieve the farmer of having to slash and burn additional forest. All the biochar needed may be produced when replacing charcoal used for cooking with biomass. Its application to the farmland replaces chemical fertilizers and can be quantified (Larson).
For example:
- Biochar is made from biomass without harming the living trees.
- Biochar is produced with zero GHG emissions.
- Biochar replaces charcoal production that is a positive GHG emitter.
- Probiotics are added to the soil containing biochar for sustainability (FAO/WHO defines probiotics: ‘Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host’).
- Biochar and probiotics need not cost any out of pocket cash, only labor, but less than the farmer would spend slashing and burning.
- Organic fertilizer is used with the biochar and probiotics.
What is the Cost to Change Third World Policy?
The cost to employ the above methods requires policy changes that recognize the solutions, quantify them, endorse them, provide training budgets, and implement them. Voluntary replication may spread the use of these methods throughout the Third World while making and using biochar as part of agroforestry.
Further Reading
Agribusinessweek.com explains more about probiotics.
U.S. Biochar Initiative website addresses biochar research in greater depth.
Joseph Reynolds - Mr. Joseph J. Reynolds, MPP began his professional career in 1974 as a planner for the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council when ...
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