Avaliação da disponibilidade de lenha e carvão e carvão na região norte da província de Sofala utilizando o modelo SAFMA-GM

Abstract

The taking of measures conducive to the exploitation of wood fuels requires knowledge of current levels of consumption and future levels of demand and supply of the resource. In this context, this study, carried out in the northern region of Sofala province (North of the Púnguè River), aimed to assess the availability of firewood and charcoal in the region, from 2000 to 2015, using the SAFMA-GM model. The study was based on three activities, namely: description of the evolution of demand and supply of firewood and charcoal, identification of potential areas for the production of woodfuels and description of the impact of possible changes in the country's economic and institutional context on availability of woodfuels in the study region. The model needs an initial file with information on coordinates, population by district, land cover, protected areas, access roads (roads and railways), river network and administrative division referring to the study region. To assess the availability of firewood and charcoal, a projection was made of the amount of woody biomass to be consumed (demand), the amount of woody biomass that ecosystems can offer (supply) and the amount of remaining woody biomass (availability) throughout the study region in the period between 2000 and 2015. The results of the projections were presented in the form of maps and graphs, in order to allow a better interpretation. Based on the analysis of the results of the study, it was concluded that at global level, the North region of Sofala does not have a deficit in the supply of woody fuel because the average annual increase rate in the demand for firewood and charcoal (0.1823m3/ha/year) ) is much lower than the average annual growth rate of woody biomass, estimated at 1.6 m3/ha/year. The districts of Chemba and Cheringoma constitute the potential areas for commercial exploitation of wood fuels in the northern region of Sofala province, because in addition to the fact that most of their forest areas allow free access, they have increased levels (0.48 and 0.73 ton). /ha, respectively) and the available biomass stock (placed between 30 to > 40 ton/ha) higher than the minimum values ​​estimated at 0.375 ton/ha/year and 15 ton/ha, respectively. However, the district of Dondo will continue to suffer from a shortage of woodfuels, even with the increase in the price of coal, expansion of the electricity grid and promotion of other alternative sources of energy (gas and oil). However, the problem could be solved through the establishment of forestry plants for energy purposes and combating uncontrolled fires, since, while the former increases the offer both in rural and urban areas, along access roads and other places of higher population density, the second reduces the destruction of forests in rural areas, places of exploitation of firewood and charcoal(TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)