Abandoned biomass utilization for household energy as a CDM mechanism for carbon dioxide emission mitigation in the Philippines

2003

Baconguis, S.R.

The utilization of abandoned biomass as charcoal briquettes for household fuel in rural and urban households is a "new phenomenon" in the Philippines. Although charcoal briquetting has been introduced in the past, this was not popularized and confined only to the limited utilization of sawdust and coconut shell charcoal fine waste briquetting. In 1999, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) upon the instruction of its Secretary together with the Forest Products Research and Development Inst (DOST) "popularized" the utilization of forest waste (and later urban abandoned cellulosic biomass) as fuel in the form of charcoal briquettes especially in Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) areas in the Philippines to reduce cutting of trees for fuelwood, charcoal making and to increase income of the beneficiaries through utilization of abandoned biomass which are traditionally burned in the field. Immediate hands-on trainings were conducted which facilitated the rapid transfer of technology to all regions of the country. The main advantage of utilizing charcoal briquettes is the reduction of fuel required per household, which is about 52% reduction of the traditional fuel/charcoal used. In producing charcoal briquettes, the ordinary households could generate an income which help alleviate poverty of our rural and urban poor population. A ton of charcoal briquettes from abandoned biomass could save 75 to 88 trees with diameter about 10 cm which is equivalent to an area of 0.12 to 0.14 ha forest area. CO2 avoidance is about 1.65 to 22 tons per hectare. In addition, the formation of methane; a more serious greenhouse gas during the decomposition of abandoned biomass is avoided during the carbonization process. The purpose of the clean development mechanism (CDM) shall be to assist Parties not included in Annex 1 in achieving sustainable development and in contributing to the ultimate objective of the convention, and to assist Parties included in Annex 1 in achieving compliance with their quantified emission limitation commitments under Article 3 (Kyoto Protocol Article 12.2). The charcoal briquetting process and product is "new" to everyone in the Philippines. It requires massive educational campaigns to promote its use to protect our environment and conserve our tropical forest which serves as a carbon sink. The utilization, therefore, of abandoned biomass as a charcoal briquette for household energy can serve as a CDM mechanism to reduce carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere

2004/PH/PH2004_0.rdf