[Stoves] Biochar Projects for Science Students

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear Kevin

The case of cattle grazing is very similar to wood fuel gathering, the
former being studied for years by a prof from the University of Ft Hare in
(at that time) Ciskei, now the Eastern Cape. His name escapes me but Cecil
Cook knows.  Bembridge, I think
ftp://ftp.nbi.ac.za/webftp/consfarm/bib/wfext.txt. He had very interesting
asides on what other methods might work and why and spent a lot of time
tinkering with agricultural extension methods.

He had developed a formula to show how a return was calculated and that one
of the terms had no value in its placeholder. As soon as there was a value
to grazing (or wood) the optimisation of the return immediately indicated
that off-take should be managed better.

Much fuel in Africa is collected free either from a vast commons or a
defacto enclosed one available only to a sub-population such as those under
a single Chief.  Once there is a 'cost' (which does not have to be a
monetary one) involved the relationship between the other variables changes.


In the old Transkei the woodlots were managed in a way so as to provide each
person a cutting day for building material (poles) and firewood. They were
usually gum trees. If they could keep the goats and fires out, such woodlots
were successful. Once built up in stature, the trees would survive the
goats.

The main difference between trees and cattle is that you can move the cattle
elsewhere and pay someone to care for them. Harder with trees.

Regards
Crispin

+++++

Here is an Article that outlines the problem in a more philosophical and
analytical light:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Best wishes,

Kevin