Assessing the Impact of Charcoal Production on Southern Angolan Miombo and Mopane Woodlands

Abstract

About 80% of Angola’s forest surface is covered by Miombo and Mopane woodlands, which are explored for diverse activities such as fuelwood and food. This study aimed to assess the recovery dynamics of Miombo and Mopane woodlands after the selective cutting of tree species for charcoal production. For that, the structure and composition of plant communities in 37 plots, located in southwestern Angola, were characterized in fallows of different ages. Results showed that the diameter at breast height, basal area, biomass, and biovolume of trees all rose as the age of the fallow increased, and there were no significant differences in richness, diversity, or dominance of trees between adult–young classes or recent–older fallows. In Mopane, fallows took longer to regenerate, were more affected by environmental and anthropogenic factors, and also presented a higher species adaptation to disturbance. There were more sprouter and seeder trees in Miombo, and new kilns were more distant from roads and villages. Moreover, the selective removal of species deeply altered the community structure and dynamics, despite not directly affecting tree diversity. Thus, new management strategies are needed to ensure the survival of these woodlands such as expanding protected areas and increasing systematic research.

Preserving Ethnoveterinary Medicine (EVM) along the Transhumance Routes in Southwestern Angola: Synergies between International Cooperation and Academic Research

“…Ptaeroxylon obliquum , which was the species most cited by our informants, had an abundance of about 13 individuals/ha (PAI: 2.2). Similar density values have been found by [ 78 ].…”

“…nr = not reported. Species PAI Conservation Categories Inventory (Urso 2014) [ 77 ]: Only Adult Stems Inventory (Kissanga et al 2024) [ 78 ]: Adult and Young Stems Da Costa et al (2019) [ 80 ] IUCN (2023) [ 79 ] Average density (stems/ha) Aloe littoralis 2.9 LC 12.2 nr Aloe zebrina 2.8 LC nr nr Cassia angolensis 2.1 nr nr Cassytha filiformis 2.0 nr nr Cissampelos mucronata 1.0 nr nr Cissus quadrangularis 1.7 LC nr nr …”

Quantification and Determinants of Carbonization Yield in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, DR Congo: Implications for Sustainable Charcoal Production

“…[19], who noted that they were among the most preferred by charcoal producers in the Lubumbashi region. This is consistent with the Miombo in Angola, where most species used in carbonization belong to the Fabaceae [60]. The fruit tree species used in the rural area of Lubumbashi have been identified as being representative of the Miombo [61].…”

“…[58] from Madagascar, where the use of non-dried wood for carbonization led to a moisture content of 34%. The wood moisture content influences the time taken for the carbonization to occur [59,60], as demonstrated by the results of Ref. [49], who showed that wood moisture content below 30% can decrease the carbonization time in a kiln.…”

Assessment of the potential for sustainable sugarcane production for bioenergy in Angola

“…Much of the existing infrastructure was built well before independence, which took place in 1975. Angola is potentially one of the richest countries in the world in mineral and natural resources [21]. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute to approximately 50% of GDP, more than 70% of government revenues, and more than 90% of the country's exports [20,22] The unemployment rate in Angola reaches almost half of the population, and approximately 70% of Angolans live below the poverty line (with less than US$ 2 per day), with poverty being more prevalent in rural areas (58%) than in urban areas (19%) [20].…”