Coppicing ability of dry miombo woodland species harvested for traditional charcoal production in Zambia: a win–win strategy for sustaining rural livelihoods and recovering a woodland ecosystem

Abstract

The miombo woodland is one of the most extensive woodlands in Africa, supporting livelihoods based on biomass fuel for millions of rural people. However, there are growing concerns about the sustainability of harvesting for biomass fuel (mainly charcoal). Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether regeneration by coppice is a viable option for sustainably managing miombo woodlands for biomass fuel production. We tested the hypotheses that (1) species, stump diameter, stump height and time since cutting significantly affect the number of sprouts per cut stump (coppice density) and mean sprout height (shoot vigour) and (2) higher coppice density reduces shoot vigour due to competition among coppice shoots in a given stump. In an inventory in areas that were harvested for charcoal production by the local people, 369 stumps of 11 species were recorded with mean coppice stumps ranged from 6 to 84. The mean coppice density ranged from 5 to 8 shoots per stump while the mean height of coppice shoots ranged from 46 to 118 cm with marked interspecific variations. Stump size was significantly and positively correlated with coppice density for some of the species, but not with shoot vigour for the majority of the species. However, shoot vigour was significantly positively correlated to time since cutting of trees for nearly half of the species. Coppice density had a significant negative correlation with shoot vigour for two species, and a positive correlation for one species. In conclusion, the results provide evidence about the importance of coppice management as a win–win strategy for sustaining charcoal-based rural livelihoods and recovering the miombo woodland ecosystem.

Keywords

African woodlands / Charcoal production / Forest management / Regeneration / Resprouting ability

References

[1] Ågren GI, Franklin O. Root: shoot ratios, optimization and nitrogen productivity. Ann Bot, 2003, 92: 795-800.

[2] Babeux P, Mauffette Y. The effects of early and late spring cuts on the sprouting success of red maple (Acer rubrum) in northwestern Quebec. Can J For Res, 1994, 24: 785-791.

[3] Bond WJ, Midgley JJ. The ecology of sprouting in woody plants: the persistence niche. Trends Ecol Evol, 2003, 16: 45-51.

[4] Brouwer R. Functional equilibrium: sense or nonsense?. Neth J Agric Sci, 1983, 33: 335-348.

[5] Chidumayo EN, Marunda C. Chidumayo EN, Gumbo DJ. Dry forests and woodlands in sub-Saharan Africa: context and challenges. The dry forests and woodlands of Africa: managing for products and services, 2010, London: Earthscan Ltd 1 9

[6] Chirwa PW, Syampungani S, Geldenhuys CJ. Seifert T. Managing southern African woodlands for biomass production: the potential challenges and opportunities. Bioenergy from wood: sustainable production in tropics, managing forest ecosystems, 2014, Dordrecht: Springer 67 87

[7] Dayamba SD, Savadogo P, Sawadogo L, Zida D, Tiveau D, Odén PC. Dominant species’ resprout biomass dynamics after cutting in the Sudanian savanna-woodlands of West Africa: long term effects of annual early fire and grazing. Ann For Scie, 2011, 68: 555-564.

[8] Dewees PA, Campbell BM, Katerere Y, Sitoe A, Cunningham AB, Angelsen A, Wunder S. Managing the miombo woodlands of southern Africa: policies, incentives and options for the rural poor. J Nat Resour Policy Res, 2010, 2: 57-73.

[9] Environmental Council of Zambia. State of the environment in Zambia, 2000, Lusaka: Environmental Council of Zambia.

[10] Falcáo MP (2008) Charcoal production and use in Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia: historical overview, present situation and outlook. https://energypedia.info/images/b/bb/EN-%E2%80%9. Accessed 18 Feb 2016

[11] Ferraz-Filho AC, Scolforo JRS, Mola-Yudego B. The coppice-with-standards silvicultural system as applied to Eucalyptus plantations—a review. J For Res, 2014, 25(2): 237-248.

[12] Frost PGH. Campbell B. The ecology of miombo woodlands. The miombo in transition: woodland and welfare in Africa, 1996, Bogor: CIFOR 1 55

[13] Geldenhuys CJ. Managing forest complexity through application of disturbance—recovery knowledge in development of silvicultural systems and ecological rehabilitation in natural forest systems in Africa. J For Res, 2010, 15: 3-13.

[14] Grundy IS (1995) Regeneration and management of Brachystegia spiciformis Benth. and Julbernadia globiflora (Benth.) Troupin in miombo woodlands, Zimbabwe. D.Phil. Thesis, University of Oxford, Oxford

[15] Handavu F, Syampungani S, Chisanga E. The influence of stump diameter and height on coppicing ability of selected key miombo woodland tree species of Zambia: a guide for harvesting for charcoal production. J Ecol Nat Environ, 2011, 3(14): 461-468.

[16] Jew EKK, Dougill AJ, Sallu SM, O’Connell J, Benton TG. Miombo woodland under threat: consequences for tree diversity and carbon storage. For Ecol Manag, 2016, 361: 144-153.

[17] Kaschula SA, Twine WC, Scholes MC. The effect of catena position and stump characteristics on the coppice response of three savannah fuelwood species. Environ Conserv, 2005, 32: 76-84.

[18] Keyser TL, Loftis DL. Stump sprouting of 19 upland hardwood species 1 year following initiation of a shelterwood with reserves silvicultural system in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. New For, 2015, 46: 449-464.

[19] Knox K, Clarke P. Nutrient availability induces contrasting allocation and starch formation in resprouting and obligate seedling shrubs. Funct Ecol, 2005, 19: 690-698.

[20] Kutsch WL, Merbold L, Ziegler W, Mukelabai MM, Muchinda M, Kolle O, Scholes RJ. The charcoal trap: miombo forests and the energy needs of people. Carbon Balance Manag, 2011, 6: 5.

[21] Ky-Dembele C, Tigabu M, Bayala J, Ouedraogo SJ, Odén PC. The relative importance of different regeneration mechanisms in a selectively cut savanna-woodland in Burkina Faso, West Africa. For Ecol Manag, 2007, 243: 28-38.

[22] Lèvesque M, McLaren K, McDonald MA. Coppice shoot dynamics in a tropical dry forest after human disturbance. J Trop Ecol, 2011, 27: 259-268.

[23] Luoga EJ, Witkoski ETF, Balkwill K. Regeneration by coppicing (resprouting) of miombo (African savanna) trees in relation to land use. For Ecol Manag, 2004, 189: 23-35.

[24] Matula R, Svátek M, Kurová J, Úradnicek L, Kadavy´ J, Kneifl M. The sprouting ability of the main tree species in Central European coppices: implications for coppice restoration. Eur J For Res, 2012, 131: 1501-1511.

[25] Mishara BP, Tripathi RS, Tripathi OP, Pandey HN. Effects of disturbance on the regeneration of four dominant and economically important woody species in a broad-leaved subtropical humid forest of Meghalaya, north east India. Curr Sci, 2003, 84: 1449-1453.

[26] Mistry J. World savannas: ecology and human use, 2000, Edinburgh: Pearson Education.

[27] Miura M, Yamamoto SI. Structure and dynamics of a Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii population in an old-growth, evergreen, broadleaved forest: the importance of sprout regeneration. Ecol Res, 2003, 18: 115-129.

[28] Mostacedo B, Putz FE, Fredericksen TS, Villca A, Palacios T. Contributions of root and stump sprouts to natural regeneration of a logged tropical dry forest in Bolivia. For Ecol Manag, 2009, 258: 978-985.

[29] Mugo F, Ong C (2006) Lessons from eastern Africa’s unsustainable charcoal business. Working paper, World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), Eastern African Regional Program

[30] Mushove PT, Makoni JT (1993) Coppicing ability of Colophospermum mopane. In: Pierce GD, Gumbo DJ (eds) Proceedings of international symposium on the ecology and management of indigenous forests in southern Africa. Zimbabwe Forestry Commission and SAREC, Harare, pp 226–230

[31] Mwabumba L, Chirwa PW, Lowore JD, Munthali CRY (1999) Coppice and natural regeneration in some miombo woodlands of Malawi. In: Mzoma RN, Mwabumba L, Chirwa PW (eds) Proceedings of a national workshop on community-based management of miombo woodlands in Malawi, Malawi, pp 160–183

[32] Mwavu EN, Witkowski ETF. Sprouting of woody species following cutting and tree-fall in a lowland semi-deciduous tropical rainforest, North-Western Uganda. For Ecol Manag, 2008, 255: 982-992.

[33] Shackleton CM. Stump size and the number of coppice shoots for selected savanna tree species. S Afr J Bot, 2000, 66: 124-127.

[34] Shackleton CM. Managing regrowth of indigenous tree species (Terminalia sericea) for fuel wood: the influence of stump dimensions and post-harvest coppice pruning. Bioenergy, 2001, 20: 261-270.

[35] Shackleton CM, Clarke JM (2007) Research and management of support of local livelihoods. World Bank Consultancy Report

[36] Syampungani S, Chirwa PW. Wallace EB. Miombo productivity: the potential contribution to carbon sequestration and payment for environmental services in east and southern Africa. Woodlands: ecology, management and conservation, 2011, New York: NOVA 185 201

[37] Syampungani S, Chirwa PW, Akinnifesi FK, Ajayi OC. The miombo woodlands at crossroads: potential threats, sustainable livelihoods, policy gaps and challenges. Nat Resour Forum, 2009, 33: 150-159.

[38] Yamada T, Kumagawa Y, Suzuki E. Adaptive significance of vegetative sprouting for a tropical canopy tree. Scorphium longiflorum (Sterculineaceae), in a peat swamp forest in central Kalimantan. Ecol Res, 2001, 16: 641-647.