Management of Acacia Plantations for Charcoal Production: Local Economies and Sustainability

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to estimate volume of
charcoal produced per unit area of Acacia seyal plantations at
Wadelbashier Forest Reserve and to estimate financial profitability
(US$ ha-1 ) of charcoal production, using net present value (NPV) as a
decision criterion. Data on tree growth was collected, using fixed-radius
temporary circular sample plots. Present and harvest age standing wood
volumes were estimated. Market-related data were collected through
structured interviews of key informants of the staff of Forest National
Corporation (FNC) of Algadarif State, members of Trade Union of
Fuelwood Producers and Traders, and from secondary sources of the
state forestry service. The results indicated that the present standing
wood volume (m3 ha-1 ) ranged between 8.4 and 26.2 and that charcoal
production from A. seyal plantations managed for a rotation of 20 years
at 12% annual discount rate yielded a negative mean financial NPV of
US$ ha-1 -30.3 indicating that charcoal production at current stocking,
factor costs, output prices, a 12% annual discount rate and a rotation
length of 20 years is not financially profitable. The study concludes that
policy and management interventions are inevitable for sustainable
production.