How many trees are cut down and used for Charcoal every year? Nobody knows!
There has not been a worldwide statistical study since 2005. That study done by FAO concluded that primary forest area (as opposed to plantations) was reduced globally by 60,000 square kilometers per year (about the size of Ireland). That would put deforestation in 2005 at 3 billion to 6 billion trees being cut down a year.
In the 2007 report provided statistics on global production and consumption of wood fuel (charcoal and other energy uses) round wood (paper and other non-lumber products) and sawn wood (lumber). It estimates global production at 1.7 billion (46 percent) , 1.6 billion (43 percent) and 421 million (11 percent) cubic meters respectively with comparable volumes consumed globally.
Some of the uses for charcoal
1. Metallurgical Fuel
2. Cooking fuel
3. Industrial fuel, still used is smaller countries.
4. Automotive fuel (outdated)
5. Purification and filtration,
6. Art
7. Horticulture
8. Medicine
9. Smoking
The charcoal briquettes, widely used for outdoor grilling are not actually charcoal. They are usually compacted mixtures of coal or coke and various binders. Other creative uses for charcoal
The charcoal industry is a multibillion dollar one for Governments globally.
Incomplete data from the FAO’s 2005 report gives a global value of $64 billion to “wood forest products removals”–$57 billion of which is from industrial round wood and its derivatives (lumber and paper).
The Government collects rents on the lands it owns, and a percent on the finished product.
Because this industry is not regulated anyone can cut down trees and sell them if they can find buyers and most buyers do not care where the wood comes from.
What do you think? Should this industry be regulated? And why is this such a well guarded secret?
Read more on this topic.
Charcoal production and use: World country statistics and global trends
Dads urge ban on tree cutting for charcoal
Read on the Congo Killings
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