Charcoal is obtained by the destructive distillation of wood by burning it in a limited quantity of oxygen. With more oxygen the charcoal gets reduced to ash. The distillate consists of aceton, methyl alcohol and pyroligeneous acid and combustible gases such as carbon monoxide and methane are produced during burning.
The main method of the illegal charcoal production in Dzalanyama is through cheap traditional kiln of earth-mound type. They are easily made by the charcoal burners but they are inefficient and wasteful. The charcoal yield is as low as 17 to 22 percent by weight of wood ( approximately 5 tonnes of wood to 1 tonne of charcoal) leading to high wastage of wood. All the chemical by- products literary go up in the smoke contributing to air pollution and this is evidenced by the plumes of smoke which curl skyward. The calorific value and the burning efficiency of charcoal depends on the density and cellular structure of the wood from which it is made. Dense and heavy woods generally make good quality charcoal.
Since Dzalanyama forest reserve contains dense miombo species their market value tends to be very high hence vulnerable to exploitation. At the moment there are around 10 charcoal hotspots in Dzalanyama forest reserve. And the current quick survey estimates that slightly over 45% of the reserve has so far been affected through either total clear felling or selective felling by this illegal activity.
Deforestated areas in Dzalanyama Forest Reserve
Traditional charcoal kiln
The charcoal is ready
Some giant kilns can make up to 100 bags
The main method of the illegal charcoal production in Dzalanyama is through cheap traditional kiln of earth-mound type. They are easily made by the charcoal burners but they are inefficient and wasteful. The charcoal yield is as low as 17 to 22 percent by weight of wood ( approximately 5 tonnes of wood to 1 tonne of charcoal) leading to high wastage of wood. All the chemical by- products literary go up in the smoke contributing to air pollution and this is evidenced by the plumes of smoke which curl skyward. The calorific value and the burning efficiency of charcoal depends on the density and cellular structure of the wood from which it is made. Dense and heavy woods generally make good quality charcoal.
Since Dzalanyama forest reserve contains dense miombo species their market value tends to be very high hence vulnerable to exploitation. At the moment there are around 10 charcoal hotspots in Dzalanyama forest reserve. And the current quick survey estimates that slightly over 45% of the reserve has so far been affected through either total clear felling or selective felling by this illegal activity.
Stacked wood ready for charcoal making
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