Small scale charcoal making: A manual for trainers: Day 2: Session 7: Wood resource management

Small scale charcoal making: A manual for trainers

Day 2

Session 7: Wood resource management

		Attachment 7A: Fuelwood production in traditional farming systems
		Attachment 7B: Why is it so difficult to grow fuelwood?
		Attachment 7C: Definitions of major wood sources

Session 7: Wood resource management

Total Time:	2 hours
Objectives:	* To list and discuss possible wood sources for carbonization
	* To discuss principles of wood resource management
	* To describe how wood sources can be utilized for making charcoal
Resources:	* Attachment 7-A, "Fuelwood Production in Traditional Farming Systems"
	* Attachment 7-B, "Why is it so Difficult to Grow Fuelwood?"
	* Attachment 7-C, "Definitions of Major Wood Sources"
Materials:	Newsprint and felt-tip pens

Trainer Notes

* Prior to this session, prepare on newsprint the following three-column, chart outline:

Wood Sources	Type of Charcoal	Potential Use

Procedures:

Step 1. (5 minutes)

Explain the objectives and briefly outline the session procedures.

Step 2. (15 minutes)

Post the chart outline and have the participants brainstorm a list of possible wood sources for use in making charcoal.

Trainer Notes

* Record their responses in the left-hand column of the chart.

* Some major sources which could be listed include:

- plantations

- woodlots

- mill scrap

- logging waste

- natural forests

- agricultural fallow

- land use conversion

- agro-forestry

Step 3. (30 minutes)

Distribute Attachment 7-A, "Fuelwood Production in Traditional Farming Systems," Attachment 7-B, "Why is it so Difficult to Grow Fuelwood?", and Attachment 7 - C, "Definitions of Major Wood Sources" and allow time for reading.

Step 4. (20 minutes)

Ask the participants to identify and discuss some of the major difficulties involved in the management of each of the wood sources listed.

Trainer Notes

* Stress the importance of citing examples based on their experiences at their work sites and/or based on the issues and examples in the reading material.

* Stimulate discussion and the sharing of personal experiences by asking the following questions:

- How are wood resources managed at your work site?

- What are some of the cultural and economic factors which influence wood resource management at your work site?

- What possibilities exist at your work site for better utilization of available wood resources? (i.e., salvage operations, agro-forestry, etc.)

- What can you do to help people manage their wood resources?

Step 5. (15 minutes)

Ask participants to identify and discuss the types of charcoal which could be produced from each of the sources listed.

Trainer Notes

* List their responses in the middle column of the posted newsprint.

* Stimulate discussion by reminding participants of the relationship between wood density and charcoal density discussed during the wood gathering activity.

* Ask participants to explain the effects of kiln design on the type of charcoal produced.

Step 6. (15 minutes)

For each type of charcoal listed, have participants determine whether it would be best for home or industrial use.

Trainer Notes

* Record their responses in the third column of the posted newsprint.

* Stimulate responses and discussion by identifying ideal characteristics of home and industrial use charcoal.

Step 7. (20 minutes)

Using the completed chart as a reference, ask participants to give specific examples of how wood sources available at their work sites may be utilized in making charcoal.