AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES FOR WOOD ENERGY PRODUCTION ON FARMS By Jean Damascene NDAYAMBAJE Researcher, Forestry Research Un

1. AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES FOR WOOD ENERGY PRODUCTION ON FARMS By Jean Damascene NDAYAMBAJE Researcher, Forestry Research Unit ISAR ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 1 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

2. Content Introduction Selection of firewood species Firewood species for the highlands Firewood species for the midlands Firewood species for the lowlands Firewood crop management Conclusion ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 2 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

3. Introduction Energy for cooking: Firewood : 84.4% Charcoal : 7.2% Vegetable materials : 6.8% Total 99.4% ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 3 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

4. Estimated annual firewood consumption (Alles, J.C., 2004) Tea industry: 46 150 m3 Brick making: 56 000 m3 Roofing tiles: 3 000 m3 Sugar industry: 2 400 m3 Restaurants and bakeries: 48 000 m3 Domestic consumption (prisons and schools included): 3 733 000 m3 ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 4 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

5. Current fuelwood consumption rate is in sharp contrast with the resource base Plantation forests : 283 000 ha Natural forests : 221 200 ha Trees on farms : No estimate Low yield: 7-8 m3 ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 5 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

6. Firewood deficit is enormous and a threat to existing forests There are about 1.8 households in Rwanda. Assume 1 household uses 5kg of firewood per day Annual requirement will be 5.5 million m3/year (1m3 of firewood weighs approx. 600 kg). Using the average yield of 12 m3 par annum, the 283 000 ha will yield 3 396 000 m3 of firewood Hence available forest plantations could be used up completely with outstanding shortfall of nearly 2.1 million m3. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 6 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

7. Options for firewood production Improved management of existing forests; yield of 20 to 30 m3/ha/year can be achieved The production of fast growing firewood species on farms the use of energy saving stoves ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 7 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

8. A system of optimising the benefit from tree-crop-livestock interactions • Immediate logical response to firewood shortage • Present both ecological and socio-economic benefits • Trees grown on farm boundaries, along roads, contours, erosion control ditches, in shelterbelts and on infertile parts of farms. Role of Agroforestry ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 8 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

9. Selection of firewood species to manage on farms Other uses in addition to fuel; Good adaptability to different sites, Easily establishment and minimum care; Adaptability to problem environments as steep hill slopes, low-nutrient or toxic soils, arid zones, etc. Nitrogen fixing ability; Rapid growth; Wood with high calorific value ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 9 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

10. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 10 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP Firewood species for the highlands

11. Firewood species for the midlands ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 11 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

12. Firewood species for the lowlands ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 12 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP

13. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 13 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP Firewood species for the lowlands

14. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 14 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP FIREWOOD MANAGEMENT • Why should we manage firewood crops on farms • Meet own requirements in firewood • Benefit other products and services: fodder, stakes, poles, erosion control, green manure, etc. • Integrated AF systems meet this philosophy

15. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 15 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP FIREWOOD MANAGEMENT • The cultivation of tree species for wood energy production requires • Seeds • Technical advices on good sylvicultural practices

16. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 16 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP FIREWOOD MANAGEMENT • Niches in farming systems • Farm boundaries • Contours • Erosion control ditches • Scattered on farms • Rotational woodlots

17. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 17 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP FIREWOOD MANAGEMENT • Firewood species are self-renewing • High copicing ability • New crop established from stumps • Repeated harvest • Save costs and efforts for replanting seedlings each time

18. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 18 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP FIREWOOD MANAGEMENT • Can be managed on short rotations • Rotation lengths depends on • Soil quality • Species used • Temperature • Moiture availability • Intensity of cultivation

19. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 19 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP FIREWOOD MANAGEMENT • Most woods burn • Wood density differenciate relative value of tree species for fuel • The heavier the wood (when dry), the greater its calorific value

20. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 20 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP Conclusion • The major challenge is to alleviate the growing shortage of wood • To this end, the planting of multipurpose trees and shrubs is vital, requiring combined effort of many stakeholders

21. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 21 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP Conclusion • Some activities to be undertaken include: 1. Reducing wasteful use of available fuel • Harvesting and using of wood resources without waste • Use of fuel efficient stoves • Use of appropriate kilns for charcoal production • Use of alternative energy sources

22. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 22 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP Conclusion 2. Improve the management of existing firewood sources 3. Intensify firewood production on farms 4. Test tree species for firewood crops • Local and exotic species • Adaptability to different AEZs • Optimising growth and yields of trees

23. ISAR, FORESTRY RESEARCH UNIT 23 IRST, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY WORKSHOP End Thank You For Your Attention