Loads of charcoal leave the dwindling forests of Zambia for the town and cities as fuel for cooking fires. Zambia is No. 2 in the world for deforestation of trees. Most of the trees are chopped down to make charcoal, which is the main source of fuel for cooking. The Copperbelt is the worst area in Zambia for deforestation.

Because of the wood borers people prefer to use wood from exotic trees as Eucalyptus and Pinus. It seems that these species are less susceptible to the damage of wood borers. Combating deforestation in Zambia has in the past been very difficult despite efforts that have been made.

The rate at which indigenous trees are cut down for energy needs, such as heating (charcoal) is alarming. This is attributed to the rural population’s living below poverty lines, therefore in failure to afford electricity. On the other hand, there is a rising demand of round wood; sawmills have increased their production capacity, and that has led to a high volume of sawdust which most of the time remains unused.

In trying to solve the three problems of deforestation, waste sawdust removal and sustainable energy sources, a CDM project (Clean Development Mechanism) has started with a stove for cooking from sawdust.

PUM (Netherlands Senior Expert) received a request for expert advice in a Timber Company in the Copperbelt area of Zambia.

The workers in the sawmill and outside in the plantations have less or no knowledge of technique.

There are many problems which end in unnecessary wear of the machines. It is difficult to invest in the proper use of machines, because not all the workers are permanent employees.

In the rainy season tree trunks will enter the area of the saw mill factory full with mud. That will immediately spoil the sharpness of the saw blades.

The labourers will clean the dirty logs with a high pressure hose before they enter the sawmill is part of the advice which has been implemented.

Another advice was to introduce the uniform method of measuring the diameter of lying wood in the factory in the middle instead of measuring the top diameter.

Cutting down the tree not at ground level, but to a height even as much as 30 cm above ground, means that the best part of the tree will remain in the forest. It will be a reduction of the harvest quality timber by 6%. In this situation it was equal to the cost of labour.

Zambia - Kitwe