International Woodfuel Conference 2021
Sustainable Woodfuel Value Chains in Africa: Governance, Social, Economic and Ecological Dimensions
23-25 NOVEMBER 2021, KUMASI, GHANA
Woodfuel (charcoal and firewood) constitutes over 70% of the energy needs for cooking and heating in sub-Saharan Africa. The consumption is on the rise due to population growth, poverty and urbanisation. The production is accessible to a large number of households, yet characterised by poor harvesting and processing practices.
The wood fuel sectors in most sub-Saharan African countries are characterised by a high degree of informality.
There are on-going efforts in most countries to formalise the sector, that is, to organise, regulate and control the production and trade, typically under the heading of sustainability. These plans give stronger roles to institutions of the state to control the production and trade through permits, taxes, and enhanced controls. However, attempts at formalising the sector without an intimate understanding of the ecological, social, and economic contexts within which the production and trade take place, run the risk of failure or may compromise wood fuel-dependent livelihoods.
Sustainable wood fuel production and trade remains a contested issue and big challenge in Africa that needs to be tackled urgently and collectively with all stakeholders involved.
Presentations made at the conference
8:00-9:30 |
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Conference check-in and morning coffee: Pick up badge and conference packet. Sale of tickets for the field trip on Day 3. |
SESSION 1 - PLENARY |
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9:30-10:45 |
Plenary hall |
CONFERENCE OPENING Introduction of Chairperson Response by Chairperson Welcome Address by Prof. Ben Kwaku Branoh Banful, Provost, College of Agric. And Natural Resources, KNUST
Opening statement by Christian Pilegaard Hansen, University of Copenhagen on behalf of conference co-organizers Statement by Mr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa Statement by Mr. J.M Allotey, Chief Executive Officer, Forestry Commission Ghana Statement by Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy, Ghana (tbc) Chairperson’s closing remarks Cultural interlude Chairperson: Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson (Vice Chancellor, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) Moderator: Emmanuel Acheampong |
10:45-11:00 |
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Short break |
11:00-12:00 |
Plenary hall |
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION NO. 1
“The current state and future of charcoal research in Africa”, by Dr. Tuyeni Heita Mwampamba (online), National Autonomous University of Mexico
Questions and Answers
Moderator: Emmanuel Acheampong |
12:00-13:30 |
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LUNCH |
SESSION 2 – PARALLEL TRACKS |
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13.30-15.00 |
Room 1 |
TRACK A – ACADEMIC
CHARCOAL ECONOMIC VALUE AND LIVELIHOODS · An estimation of national charcoal production: The case of Ghana (KS Nketiah (physical))
Moderator: Mawa Karambiri
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13.30-15.00 |
Room 2 |
TRACK B – ACADEMIC SUSTAINABLE PLANTING AND REGENERATION OF WOODFUEL
Moderator: Frank Agyei |
13.30-15.00 |
Plenary hall |
TRACK C – PRACTICE
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Moderator: Sophie Grouwels, FAO/FFF |
15:00 -15:30 |
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Coffee and tea break |
SESSION 3 – PARALLEL TRACKS |
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15:30-17:00 |
Room 1 |
TRACK A – ACADEMIC
CHARCOAL GOVERNANCE · Community-Based Governance Arrangements for Charcoal Production in Ghana (Joseph Asante (physical)) · Effects of transition from open access to community-based management on the social network of charcoal producers (Hanneke van ‘t Veen (online))
Moderator: Kyereh Boateng |
15:30-17:00 |
Room 2 |
TRACK B – ACADEMIC
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WOODFUEL Moderator: Joana Beulah Echeruo |
15:30-17:00 |
Plenary hall |
TRACK C – PRACTICE KILN/STOVES TECHNOLOGIES · Sustainable production of charcoal and manufacture of bio fertilizer based on the casamance kiln, Togo (Noumonvi Kodjo, UROPC-M (online)) · Charcoal Production with efficient kilns – work experience Dr. Chris Adam (physical), Kiln producer · Video: Charcoal Production in Zambia Jolien Shure, CIFOR (physical) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9wekg4aiNQ&t=1s
Moderator: K.S. Nketiah |
17:00-17:15 |
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Short break |
SESSION 4 – PLENARY |
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17:15-18.45 |
Plenary hall |
Policy panel: Dialogue on effective woodfuel management in multifunctional landscapes (organized by ICRAF/CIFOR)
Panelists: 1. Zambia: New charcoal rules and option for integrating Assisted Natural Regeneration in policy. Deuteronomy Kasaro (online), Principal Forestry Officer. 2. Kenya: Charcoal Rules, 10 years on. Clement Ng’oriarengm (physical), Kenya Forest Service. 3. Cameroon: Incentive mechanism for charcoal from wood residues. Georges Amougou, MINFOF Littoral. 4. Ghana: Bridging the sectoral divide. Kwakye Ameyaw (Physical), Ghana Forestry Commission.
Launch of new CIFOR-ICRAF Brief Series on Sustainable Woodfuel.
Moderator: Phosiso Sola |
18:45- |
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Reception with food and drinks Exhibition, posters and documentaries |
SESSION 5 – PLENARY |
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09:00-09:30 |
Plenary hall |
Reporting and take away messages from Day 1
Reports from moderators
Moderator: Mercy Owusu Ansah |
SESSION 6 – PARALLEL TRACKS |
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09:30-11:00 |
Room 1 |
TRACK A – ACADEMIC
CHARCOAL LANDSCAPES
Moderator: Jolien Schure |
09:30-11:00 |
Room 2 |
TRACK B – ACADEMIC
WOODFUELS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT · Sources of wood for charcoal production in Asantekwa and Nkwanta (Tontie L Kanton (physical))
Moderator: Christian P Hansen |
09:30-11:00 |
Plenary hall |
TRACK C – PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE BIO ENERGY ALTERNATIVES · Cotton stalks for briquettes in Zambia (John Ngwenyama, Cotton Association of Zambia (Online)) · Biochar to restore cocoa forest in Ghana. Ellen R. Graber (Physical), Volcani Institute · Video on sustainable wood energy and forest landscape restoration Michela Morese (online), Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), FAO
Moderator: Enoch Agyepong, Renewable Energy Association of Ghana |
11:00-11:30 |
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Coffee and tea break |
11:30-12:30 |
Plenary hall |
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION NO. 2
Questions and Answers
Moderator: Frank Agyei |
12:30-14:00 |
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Lunch |
SESSION 7 – PARALLEL TRACKS |
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14:00-15:30 |
Room 1 |
TRACK A: Policy panel: How conducive are energy and environmental policies in Africa to sustainability interventions in the charcoal sector? Preliminary findings from an assessment of 31 AFR100 countries (organized by FAO and AUDA-NEPAD)
· Overview of main findings by Tuyeni Mwampamba and co- authors · Q & A and feedback on main findings from audience · Presentation and discussion of country-specific findings in breakout groups
Moderator: Tuyeni Mwampamba |
14:00-15:30 |
Room 2 |
TRACK B - ACADEMIC
VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS
Moderator: Emmanuel Acheampong
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14:00-15:30 |
Plenary hall |
TRACK C - PRACTICE
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS · Video; Charcoal makers turn to sustainability in Yangambi Landscape, DRC CIFOR Jolien Schure https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/video/u3UMxH3XgGg
Moderator: Paul Osei Tutu |
15:30-16:00 |
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Coffee and tea break |
SESSION 8 - PLENARY |
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16:00-17:30
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Plenary hall |
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PANEL – WHAT FUTURE FOR WOODFUELS IN AFRICA? REFLECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO MOVE FORWARD
Panelists: · Rashid Ali Abdallah, Executive Director, African Energy Commission · Xia Zuzhang, Forestry officer, FAO Forestry Division · Benjamin Akibundu, AFR100 Coordinator, AUDA-NEPAD · Paula Edze, Ministry of Energy, Ghana · Anicef Ngomin, Ministry of Forestry, Cameroon · Béatrice Despioch, Co-founder Eco-charcoal Limited, Kenya · Mark K. Akparibo, Ghana Federation of Forest and Farm Producers
Questions and answers session
Moderator: Nora Berrahmouni |
17:30-18:00 |
Plenary hall |
WRAP-UP, NEXT STEPS AND CLOSING
Closing statements: · Robert Nasi, Director General CIFOR and Managing Director CIFOR-ICRAF · Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa · Seth Manu, Ministry of Energy, Ghana
Moderator: Christian P. Hansen |