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Camelthorn (Acacia erioloba) firewood industry in Western Cape, South Africa

Thesis (MFor)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The reliance of firewood demand on indigenous trees such as Acacia erioloba is a
continuing phenomena despite the concern that over-exploitation of these resources
will degrade the environment. This study tested the hypothesis that the cutting of A.
erioloba in the Northern Cape is driven by (a) market demand in the Western Cape,
(b) ignorance of the long-term ecological consequences and/or (c) ignorance of
legislation along the chain of custody of this product. The assumption is that whoever
is involved in the A. erioloba firewood industry (resource owner, trader or user) is
neither aware of the protected status of the resource nor the negative consequences
associated with the over-exploitation of the resource or they are driven by short term
monetary gains. Therefore, there is a need to understand the needs of every participant
in the chain and to further find out if there may be substitutes for A. erioloba
firewood. The results of this study show that there is a market for firewood in the
study area and that this demand is driven mainly by the availability rather than the
quality of firewood. It will also be shown that Acacia mearnsii which is available in
the study area is a better product than A. erioloba and therefore it can be a suitable
replacement but consumers were found to bum almost everything that would give
them embers. The most preferred firewood in the study area is A. cyclops. The
concept of indigenous trees is not clearly understood by retailers and consumers. The
major role players in the supply chain were found to be the retailers and the transport
owners who may be targeted when firewood trade is to be stopped in the short-term.
The results further highlighted the fact that the majority of consumers were aware that
indigenous trees were protected in South Africa but the majority of retailers were not
aware. The study recommends that firewood trade should be stopped completely by
strict enforcement of the law or by the involvement of every role-player and/or that
the trade should be regulated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fenomeen dat die aanvraag vir vuurmaakhout staatmaak op inheemse bome soos
Acacia erioloba duur steeds voort ten spyte van die kommer dat oorbenutting van
hierdie hulpbronne, ter versadiging van die behoeftes van 'n steeds toenemende
populasie, die omgewing sal degradeer.
Hierdie studie het die hipotese getoets dat die afsny van A. erioloba in die Noord-
Kaap aangedryf word deur (a) die mark aanvraag in die Wes-Kaap, (b) onkunde oor
die langtermyn ekologiese gevolge en/of (c) onkunde oor die wetgewing van hierdie
produk by die skakels in die verskaffersketting. Die aanname is dat wie ook al
betrokke is by die A. erioloba vuurmaakhout-industrie (hulpbron eienaar, handelaar of
gebruiker) is beide onbewus van die beskermde status van die hulpbron asook van die
negatiewe gevolge geassosieer met die oorbenutting van die hulpbron of hulle is
aangedryf deur korttermyn monetêre gewin. Daarom is dit nodig om die behoefte van
elke deelnemer in die ketting te verstaan en om verder uit te vind of daar
plaasvervangers vir A. erioloba vuurmaakhout is.
Die resultate van hierdie studie toon dat daar 'n aanvraag is vir vuurmaakhout in die
studie-area en dat hierdie aanvraag hoofsaaklik gedryf word deur die beskikbaarheid,
eerder as die kwaliteit van die hout. Daar salook aangetoon word dat Acacia
mearnsii, wat in die studie-area beskikbaar is, 'n beter produk is as A. erioloba en dus
'n geskikte plaasvervanger kan wees, maar dit wil voorkom of die verbruikers omtrent
enigiets sal brand wat kole sal verskaf. A. cyclops is die vuurmaakhout van voorkeur
in die studie-area. Handelaars en verbruikers verstaan nie die konsep van inheemse
bome duidelik nie. Die vernaamste rolspelers in die verskaffersketting is die
handelaars en die eienaars van die vervoer en hulle kan die teikengroep wees as die
handel in vuurmaakhout in die korttermyn stopgesit word. Die resultate het verder na
vore gebring dat die meerderheid verbruikers daarvan bewus is dat inheemse bome
beskermd is in Suid-Afrika, maar die meerderheid handelaars is nie hiervan bewus
me.
Hierdie studie maak die aanbeveling dat handel in vuurmaakhout totaal gestaak moet
word deur strenger wette of deur die betrokkenheid van elke rolspeler en/of dat handel
gereguleer moet word.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53318
Date04 1900
CreatorsRaliselo, 'Muso Andreas
ContributorsMilton, S. J., Kleynhans, T. E., Pepler, D., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format83 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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