Converting Forest Biomass to Bioenergy for Improved Community Livelihoods: A Review
Derkyi Nana Sarfo Agyemang,
Derkyi Mercy Afua Adutwumwaa,
Yankyera Joseph Kusi
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
16-28
Received:
18 March 2021
Accepted:
30 March 2021
Published:
29 April 2021
Abstract: A wide range of forest biomass from both natural and plantation forests constitutes an essential natural asset to a large number of households. The ever-increasing development of biofuels as a potentially sustainable and cleaner replacement for conventional fuels represents a key challenge for the forest industry and the opportunity for forest fringe communities. This, typifies a unique situation to understand the challenges and opportunities for designing sustainable bioenergy supply chains that require simultaneous consideration of economic, social, and environmental aspects. The objective of this study was to examine the conversion of forest biomass to bioenergy for improved community livelihoods. Desk study, content analysis and authors’ personal experiences were employed in carrying out this study. The study finds that forest environ abounds with biomass as feedstock for bioenergy. Positively, there are different technologies in converting biomass to bioenergy. However, it calls for the technical know-how and other factors such as infrastructure, market, full participation of critical players and policy incentives to facilitate bioenergy enterprises at the local level. In conclusion, policies and support mechanisms on bioenergy in creating sustainable livelihoods should be the priority for most countries where biomass abounds and could be established to provide clean and efficient energy.
Abstract: A wide range of forest biomass from both natural and plantation forests constitutes an essential natural asset to a large number of households. The ever-increasing development of biofuels as a potentially sustainable and cleaner replacement for conventional fuels represents a key challenge for the forest industry and the opportunity for forest frin...
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Performance Assessment of Cascaded Reservoirs Operation Under the Impact of Climate Change the Case of Lower and upper Dabus Reservoirs, UBN Basin, Ethiopia
Jemal Ibrahim Mohammed,
Bogale Gebramariam
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
29-39
Received:
17 February 2021
Accepted:
21 April 2021
Published:
29 April 2021
Abstract: Globally the impact of climate change affects many water resources projects, thus it is important to assess its impact on reservoir performance. This study mainly assesses the performance of Upper and Lower Dabus reservoirs under the impact of climate change using Reliability, Resilience and Vulnerability indices (RRV). The future climate variables were projected by General Circulation Model (GCM) and downscaled at the basin level for the A1B emission scenario using the Regional Climate Model (RCM). The trend of streamflow forecasted at outlet (merging to main Abbay River) was assessed and the inflow generated to reservoirs was used to determine reservoirs performance indices (RRV). Finally the inflow to the reservoirs with monthly evapotranspiration from the reservoirs was used as input to HEC-ResSim to simulate and optimize reservoir operation and Power production. The average annual inflow to the upper Dabus reservoirs shows an increasing of 3.17% for early century (2010-2040) and decreasing of 2.08% and 4.46% for mid (2040-2070) and late century (2070-2100) respectively. The average time base reliability of the reservoirs was less than 50% for no reservoir condition and greater than 90% for the other condition considered but volumetric reliability and resilience shows 100% for all conditions. According to the vulnerability result the reservoirs will face shortage of flow which ranges from 8.85% to 88.51%. The result of reservoir simulation shows that the power plant parameters does not shows much significant in all scenarios considered in this study. As a result of these the Dabus sub-basin reservoirs have sufficient potential to produce required power for the country according to reconnaissance level study of the basin demand requirement and even more power can be produced.
Abstract: Globally the impact of climate change affects many water resources projects, thus it is important to assess its impact on reservoir performance. This study mainly assesses the performance of Upper and Lower Dabus reservoirs under the impact of climate change using Reliability, Resilience and Vulnerability indices (RRV). The future climate variables...
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Effect of the Altitudinal Gradient on the Structure and Diversity of the Tree Component in Monte Unango
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
40-49
Received:
25 November 2020
Accepted:
6 January 2021
Published:
8 May 2021
Abstract: The study was developed with the objective of evaluating the effect of the altitudinal gradient on the structure and diversity of the tree community on Mount Unango, for this, where 3 strata were allocated with 25 plots each, all with 100m². After its development, it was found in strata1, 2 and 3, a total of 1919 tree individuals distributed in 33 species, 25 genera, and 16 botanical families. The families best represented in number of species were: Fabaceae, and Caesalpinaceae. The species Catunaregam obovata, Piliostigma thonningii, Syzygium guineense, Parinari curatellifolia, Cussonia arborea and Annona senegalensis were present in all altimetric strata at Unango Mount. The diversity was: 1,9, 2,6, and 1.8 respectively for strata 1, 2 and 3. Analytically there was a high similarity between the strata 1 and 2 studied with 50% in the Jaccard index (9 species in common), and lower similarity between strata 1 and 3 (1 species in common) with 25% of the index. The gradient studied presents a peak of diversity and richness at intermediate altitudes. And there was an abrupt transition in terms of the composition in the upper stratus (1040m), which presents most of its floristic composition with characteristics of the high mountain ecosystems.
Abstract: The study was developed with the objective of evaluating the effect of the altitudinal gradient on the structure and diversity of the tree community on Mount Unango, for this, where 3 strata were allocated with 25 plots each, all with 100m². After its development, it was found in strata1, 2 and 3, a total of 1919 tree individuals distributed in 33 ...
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