Socioeconomic impact of charcoal production in a rural commune

Abstract

The artisanal production of charcoal promotes a great environmental impact. In order to evaluate the socioeconomic impact of charcoal production in the Las Lagunas commune, Manabí, Ecuador, the problem related to the causes and effects of the artisanal oven or parva and the production conditions was identified. A semi-structured interview was applied to charcoal producers and the same one that inquired about: population context, productive context and socioeconomic context. The species Ziziphus thyrsiflora, (Benth.), Tectona grandis, L. and Bonellia sprucei (Mez) B. Ståhl and Källersjö are the most used in charcoal production. The process is divided into five stages, namely: obtaining raw material; collection of raw material; furnace supply or production system; carbonization and gathering or harvesting of the final product. For each production batch, minimum averages of 10 bags and maximum of 25 bags are obtained. The final destination of the production is for sale and self-consumption, 90% of the producers market it with chicken roasters and 10% to intermediaries, in wholesale sales; retail sales account for 15% of production.