Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2000.

No description available.

Information on alder (Alnus jorullensis silvics and dendrology, propagation, and management were synthesized into four alternatives for fuelwood management in Saraguro, Loja, Ecuador. Stem volume was estimated from diameter and height measurements taken in 16 stands of known age in Ecuador using an empirical equation developed in Costa Rica. An empirical equation describing the relationship between stem volume and tree age for alder in Ecuador was then developed. Measurements of 5 fuelwood units from Saraguro were used to determine the market price for a cubic meter of fuelwood. Four mangement regimes using a 20 year rotation were then examined at four discount rates. Using a 15% real rate of interest, thinning at 10 years yielded a present net value of 891,059 sucres and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.31. The analysis was more sensitive to changes in fuelwood price than to changes in wage rate.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2016. / ABSTRACT Sibudu rock shelter was occupied by hunter gatherer groups of modern humans during the Middle Stone Age between 77 and 38 000 (38 ka) years ago. Sibudu is in the summer rainfall region and is situated about 15 km inland of the eastern coast of South Africa. The site includes technological industries such as Still Bay and Howiesons Poort that are distinguished by specific stone tool types. Woody taxa identified from archaeological charcoal in this site, indicate changes in vegetation and wood use. Archaeological charcoal specimens, specifically from hearths on three putative occupation floors, were analysed for behavioural information about wood selection and use. Two of the stratigraphic layers, BYA2 (i) and SPCA, are approximately 58 ka old and the MOD layer is approximately 49 ka old. All three layers contain tools from the post-Howiesons Poort industry. Identifications of woody taxa were made by means of a comparative charcoal reference collection and the InsideWood database. Charcoal was studied under stereo and reflective light microscopes. Woody taxa identified confirmed that the coldest, driest phase of occupation was at approximately 58 ka. Bushveld woods, including five Acacia types, have been identified in charcoal from MOD layer, ~49 ka. The vegetation mosaic was different from today’s coastal forest and savanna near Sibudu. The availability of natural wood around Sibudu, visible in the type of wood burnt in hearths, has changed since 58 ka and 49 ka for either climatic or anthropogenic reasons or for a combination of these. In all three layers, the wood bundles include tinder, fuel, and a selection of woody plants that today are known to have medicinal bark, leaves and wood. People may have selected wood for burning properties (for example, temperature, light and coal production) and for medicine. Woods suitable for making firesticks for starting fires by means of friction are present. Wood from Spirostachys africana (tambotie) occurs in one hearth in each of the three layers. Since Spirostachys africana is normally avoided in cooking fires as it is poisonous, this suggests that the wood was selected deliberately and burnt for insecticidal smoke or other medicinal purposes. Tarchonanthus parvicapitulatus (syn. T. camphoratus) charcoal occurred in layer SPCA. This adds to the previous evidence of the use of aromatic plants at Sibudu, where sedge bedding was topped with aromatic, insecticidal Cryptocarya woodii (river-quince) leaves (Wadley et al. 2011. Science 334 (6061): 1388-1391). Wood use is different between hearths and surrounding sediments and between occupations dating 58 ka and 49 ka. Keywords: phytomedicine, Sibudu, Spirostachys africana, Acacia, charcoal analysis, wood anatomy / LG2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, 2016. / South African gold mines are associated with the generation of a lot of mine waste in the form of milled rock (tailings). Tailings contain the mineral pyrite which, when exposed to air and water, cause acid mine drainage (AMD). Due to the large environmental impact (footprint and scale) ofthe tailings storage facilities (TSFs) on soils and groundwater, there has been much research done in phytoremediation. Some plants, such as Eucalyptus, used in this method are able to control seepage by using their extensive roots but this may inadvertently extract some contaminants from the water and accumulate them in the above ground parts of the tree. Upon harvesting of these plants, there is the potential for them to be used as biofuel for the generation of bioenergy, and by industry or the public as timber/construction wood, firewood, charcoal, generation of electricity, etc. In this study, three species of Eucalyptus trees grown by the University of the Witwatersrand in three site-species trials on AMD were evaluated for their concentrations of elements in leaves, bark, branches/twigs and stem wood, in order to determine the safety of the biomass for fuel, and the potential for environmental pollution (dissemination of metals) that could be caused by combustion. The study focused on Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. grandis x camaldulensis hybrid and E. dunnii trees grown for eight years in three different trial sites, with one trial ("Mispah") situated at AngloGold Ashanti's Vaal River Mining Operations (VR, near Orkney - Klerksdorp) and two trial("Madala", "Red Soil") situated at the West Wits Mining Operations (WW, near Carletonville). The sites were typical of soils on the mine properties (WW Madala: Clovelly, WW Red Soil: Hutton, VR Mispah: Hutton and Mispah), and impacted by seepage from adjacent TSFs. Three entire above-ground trees were harvested per species (three trees per site, nine in total), weighed fresh and after drying. Samples of leaves, bark, twig/small branches, and main stem wood were analysed for their elemental contents; alongside a Certified Reference Material (CRM) (Orchard Leaves no. 1571); using Leco CNS analyser, Inductively Coupled PlasmaOptical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to determine the concentrations of major and trace elements such as Aluminium (AI), Barium (Ba), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Sodium (Na), Nickel (Ni), Phosphorus (P), Sulphur (S), Strontium (Sr), Titanium (Ti), Zinc (Zn), Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Arsenic (As), Gold (Au), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Uranium (U), carbon (C) and ash content. The CRM was used to validate the two analytical methods. There was variation in the concentrations of nutrients measured. There were no significant differences noted in the metallloids concentrations between all the Eucalyptus 11\ species studied (p>O.05). Variation between sites could not be determined as there were no replicates available to perform the comparison. The World Health Organisation (WHO) maximum permissible level (MPL) in plants for arsenic (As) is 1 mg/kg. The MPL was exceeded in all tissues of all three Eucalyptus species studied. Arsenic concentrations of 5.09, 4.36 and 5.48 mg/kg were found in the wood of E. camaldulensis, E. grandis x camaldulensis and E. dunnii respectively. A risk assessment performed found that there was no evidence that there will be adverse effects caused by supplying fuelwood from these contaminated Eucalyptus trees. Even though high arsenic concentrations were recorded in this study, if the wood is used as fertilizer in a vegetable bed, the transfer of the arsenic to the common vegetables is below the daily oral reference dose. The general trend in the concentration of metals and metalloids in different plant tissues was in the order of leaves > bark > branches/twigs > wood. The results of the biomass exposure assessment showed that the exposure through use of the ash as fertiliser was lower than the oral reference dose for Mn, Fe, Ba and As. The biomass risk assessment showed that the best-performing tree, in terms of wood production on AMO, was the E. camaldulensis. The risk of other metallioids was not evaluated as there was no good agreement between the results recorded with those certified of the CRM. It is suspected that the CRM used was old. / AC2016

As estatísticas de produção e consumo de lenha e carvão vegetal existentes para o Brasil apresentam diferenças significativas entre si. Como não estão disponíveis os métodos utilizados, o que permitiria identificar os critérios utilizados, foram desenvolvidos métodos para estimar o consumo de lenha e carvão vegetal e elaborado um balanço oferta-demanda de madeira. Os métodos foram elaborados buscando simplicidade, robustez e disponibilidade de informações. Os métodos foram testados para o período 1996 - 2005 e comparados com os dados do Balanço Energético Nacional - BEN, elaborado pelo Ministério das Minas e Energia - MME. Os resultados mostram pequenas diferenças para o consumo total de lenha e carvão vegetal. Por outro lado, existem diferenças significativas no consumo setorial. Em 2005, quando comparado com o BEN, o consumo calculado de lenha no setor residencial é a metade, no setor agropecuário é o triplo, no setor de serviços e na industria é 26,5% e 14,6% menor, respectivamente. O consumo de carvão vegetal cai nos setores residencial e de serviços, 62,9% e 82,7%, respectivamente e cresce 10,0% e 812,3% nos setores industrial e agropecuário, respectivamente. No diagnóstico realizado sobre o uso de lenha e carvão vegetal no Brasil, foram identificadas regiões suscetíveis a problemas de oferta e que deverão ser alvo de estudos aprofundados para não comprometer a quantidade de madeira disponível de forma sustentável. O balanço é o resultado da diferença entre a oferta e a produção de madeira em nível municipal, que corresponde à menor unidade espacial com informação disponível para o Brasil. As regiões mais críticas no que se refere à produção de madeira para fins energéticos encontram-se nos Estados de Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais e Bahia. É importante destacar que mesmo municípios com balanços positivos podem apresentar situações de déficit devido à exploração excessiva e pontual de madeira. / Fuelwood and charcoal statistics for Brazil present important differences between them. Once the methods used to estimate production and consumption of these woodfuels are not available, which would allow to identify the used criteria, methods were developed to estimate the fuelwood and charcoal consumption and it was also elaborated a supply-demand balance of woodfuels. The methods were prepared seeking simplicity, robustness and availability of information. The methods were tested for the 1996 - 2005 period and compared with data from Brazilian Energy Balance (BEB), produced by Mines and Energy Ministry. The results show little differences for total fuelwood and charcoal consumption. On the other hand, there are expressive differences in sector consumption. In 2005, the fuelwood consumption in residential sector estimated by this study is half of Brazilian Energy Balance data. In agriculture is triple and in services sector and industry is 26.5% and 14.6% less than BEB data, respectively. The charcoal consumption decreases in residential and services sectors in 62.9% and 82.7%, respectively and grows 10.0% and 812.3% in industrial and agriculture, respectively. In the spatial assessment of fuelwood and charcoal use in Brazil, hotspots were identified concerning supply problems, which should be studied in order not to endanger the availability of woodfuels. The balance is the difference between supply and demand of woodfuel in the municipal level, which corresponds to the minimum administrative unit with available information for Brazil. The more critical woodfuels production hotspots are located in Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Bahia States. It is important to highlight that even municipal districts with positive balances may present fuelwood deficits due to an excessive and punctual wood exploitation.

No description available.

The purpose of this thesis is the determination of a minimum market price for Short-Rotation Forestry (SRF) willow biomass grown in monoculture and windbreaks in Quebec and Ontario. Full cost budgeting was used and developed on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Harvest cycles of 3 and 4 years for monoculture plantations, and 8 years for windbreaks were investigated. Estimates for establishment and other preharvest costs were obtained from mid-sized (5 hectares) commercial SRF willow plots in Quebec and Ontario. / For the monoculture plantations, irrespective of cycle length, and using the base case figures, the final delivery cost of willow biomass ranged between 74-126 $/odMg and 63--109 $/odMg based on current and projected costs respectively. These hold for yields between 7 and 11 odMg/ha/yr. Moreover, the 4-year cycle was revealed to be more economically efficient than a 3-year cycle. Along with yield, the main cost factors affecting the economics of SRF monoculture plantations are: harvesting, transportation to a processing plant, land lease management. For the two major energy markets, ethanol and electricity production (biomass in replacement of coal), SRF willow biomass in monoculture plantations does not appear to be a viable feedstock given present technology and yields. In the short run, a more promising outlet for willow biomass is space heat production for small buildings, farm complexes, etc. In this market, many potential buyers can afford to pay a higher price for biomass than ethanol or electricity utilities. / In the windbreak system, biomass could be produced for between 44 and 68 $/odMg, assuming that yields between 12 to 20 odMg/ha/yr can be achieved. At this price, windbreak biomass is not a competitive feedstock for ethanol or electricity generation, but is attractive for space heat production. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

South Africa is not well endowed with indigenous forests which are now known to be degraded and declining at unknown rates. This constitutes a direct threat to quality of life of the resource-poor rural households who directly depend on them and to ecological integrity. It is also recognised that the declining tree resources, particularly the high value indigenous tree species, are increasingly threatened by a number of growing subsistence demands. This emphasised the need to cultivate and conserve high-value tree species such as Englerophytum natalense, Ptaeroxylon obliquum and Millettia grandis on-farm in Umzimvubu District. Agroforestry is recognised as a viable option for optimising land productivity, reducing pressure on the indigenous forests, ensuring a sustainable supply of desired tree products and services and improving the quality of life of the resource-poor rural households. This Thesis examines whether agroforestry in Umzimvubu District and similar areas of South Africa has the potential for addressing these needs. It recognises that for successful initiation, implementation and adoption, agroforestry should be considered at two levels, namely, household and institutional. Responses based on structured questionnaires were obtained at these levels. Questionnaires were used to determine whether the households and institutions were aware of, and responding to, the need to intensify and diversify on-farm production, ease pressure on indigenous forest, improve income opportunities and problem solving capacities to address agroforestry related issues. An ecological inventory of E. natalense, P. obliquum and M grandis was carried out to provide a sound basis for integrating high-value species into appropriate agroforestry systems and to facilitate the preparation of future management guidelines for these resources in Mt. Thesiger Forest Reserve. The study: i) confirms that most high value indigenous tree species merit integration into subsistence farming systems through agroforestry, ii) appreciates that some rural households have been unknowingly practising agroforestry, iii) recognises that agroforestry is implied in South Mrica's White Paper on Sustainable Forest Development of 1997, but notes that similar emphasis has not been adopted or incorporated in the National Forestry Action Programme of 1997, and iv) notes that challenges to promoting agroforestry research and development in the South Mrican context of the institutions and resource-poor rural households are many, but can be resolved. The study concludes that agroforestry stands to benefit many resource-poor rural households and enhance environmental resilience in South Africa in the next millennium. / Thesis (M.Sc.) - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

In the context of the post-apartheid era and under the new Government of National Unity, the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) was initiated in 1994. To assist in the realisation of the goals of this programme the macro-economic strategy, Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR), was implemented in 1996. It was within these frameworks that the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) launched its Working for Water (WFW) programme in October 1995. This programme was based on three pillars, namely: enhancing water supply and water security; creating jobs, building communities and improving quality of life and; conserving ecological functioning and biological diversity. Since October 1995 the Working for Water Programme has created 42 059 jobs, 220 884 hectares have been cleared with follow-up clearing in 55 731 hectares as part of the programme strategy to enhance water supply. Investment has been made in 240 projects, with a budget of R365 147 259 as at 31 March 1998. The impact of the Turn Table Trust WFW Project, a sub-project of the Central Umkomaas WFW Project, was examined in terms of fuelwood supply and household income of three small rural communities, namely: Xosheyakhe, Intabamakhaba and Mkhohlwa, referred to in this dissertation as the Rural Bulwer community. The research was carried out by means of questionnaire interviews and a workshop held at the Pholela Tribal court. The results of this study indicate that the Bulwer community depend on four energy types, in order of importance; wood, paraffin, dung and electricity. Many of the households perceive that, since the Turn Table Trust WFW Project began in the area in November 1995, there is less wood available and trees which are used for fuelwood are being cleared. Certain areas have felt the impacts of the clearingprogramme. People who have access to electricity still rely on fuelwood as they can not afford to use electricity exclusively. Indigenous forests are important as a source of fuelwood and for the harvesting of medicinal plants. The indigenous forests could be put under severe stress if wattle becomes unavailable forfuelwood purposes. The impact of the Turn Table Trust WFW Project on the fuelwood supply of the Bulwer community is small at present, but likely to increase. Households that have members employed by the Project, rely on this income to cover most household expenses. These households struggle to survive if or when employment by the Turn Table Trust WFW Project is periodically terminated. The businesses in Bulwer have also come to rely on the income earned by those employed by the Project. The Working for Water programme has far reaching implications for a local community and its surrounds and these need to be taken into account when both beginning and, importantly, ending a project in an area. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.