Keywords
rural livelihoods
useful trees
traditional management
rural peasant economy
How to Cite
Abstract
Wood is an important source of bioenergy in rural areas. Traditional charcoal production has been declining as a result of a dwindling workforce and limited availability of suitable trees. The aim of this study was to analyze charcoal production in the Sierra de Zongolica, focusing on the people involved, the production process, commercialization, and future outlook for this activity. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach, grounded theory, and ethnographic methods such as semi-structured interviews. Participants were selected through non-probabilistic sampling using the snowball sampling. A total of 64 interviews were conducted with key individuals involved in the production process (using traditional brick kiln for charcoal production) and the commercialization of charcoal, including interviews with landowners, charcoal producers, and merchants. Eight tree species were identified (Pinus patula, Alnus acuminata, Arbutus sp., Quercus laurina, Quercus crassifolia, Quercus calophylla, Quercus rugosa, and Quercus affinis), with the genus Quercus being particularly valued for its high calorific content. Charcoal is marketed in a variety of contexts: producers sell to intermediaries within their local communities; both producers and intermediaries sell in nearby cities such as Córdoba and Orizaba; and intermediaries also distribute it to more distant markets in Puebla and Morelos. According to the charcoal producers, there is a clear downward trend in charcoal production. They attribute this decline to a shortage of suitable trees caused by overexploitation, which has forced many to seek alternative sources of income, such as crafting rustic furniture from pine wood.
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