Lantana Bio-char

A Junglescapes’ Innovation Initiative

Junglescapes Charitable Trust

March 2013

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Lantana Bio-char making

Simple and low-cost production method

Simple technology successfully used in Madhya

Pradesh by tribal villagers over last 2 years

Low investment: drum cost Rs 12000 only; no other

equipment needed

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Lantana Char training

Successful training at Theppakadu EDC in

December 2012

Training Programme

◦ 10 women EDC members trained in 2 days

◦ Training given by 2 expert trainers from Bhopal

◦ Trainees successful in making good quality bio-char

◦ Trainees confident after the training

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Training Pictures

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Bio-char demand

Good demand for bio-char

Agarbathis

◦ Charcoal is the medium for burning

◦ Mixed with gum and perfume

◦ Currently char is sourced from acacia and coconut waste

Agriculture & horticulture

◦ Helps beneficial bacteria to grow

◦ Water retention

◦ Helps quick revival of poor soil

Charcoal briquettes

◦ Used as fuel for boilers, etc

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Benefits of Lantana Char

Benefits both Conservation and people

Conservation Benefits

◦ One drum can consume 1000 lantana bushes per month

◦ Better invasive species management: forest floor cleared for

other species of grass and plants to grow

◦ Reduced risk of forest fires: dry lantana stock removed

◦ Bio-diversity: more habitats for all wildlife

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Benefits of Lantana Char Benefits to both EDC and conservation

Benefits to forest dwellers

◦ Employment generation

◦ Steady income to EDC from sale of char: convert waste

to wealth

◦ 4 drums can generate income of Rs 2 lakhs pa

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Testing in agarbathis

Junglescapes has tested lantana bio-char

for agarbathi making with a leading

agarbathi producer

Results of testing

◦ Lantana char is usable for agarbathis

◦ Good calorific value and carbon content

◦ Lantana char burns faster than other char, so has to be

blended with other char

Good potential

◦ Number of agarbathi makers in Mysore

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Summary

Invasive weeds have been identified as

one of the major threats to the Western

Ghats eco-system

◦ By rough estimates 25-30% of protected forest

areas covered by lantana

◦ Even containment of lantana is an uphill task

Bio-char can be a key element in the

management of the lantana threat

◦ The financial linkage provides badly needed

funding for lantana management

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Summary

Bio-diversity incentive to EDCs

Need for bio-diversity incentive

◦ Link bio-char activity with systematic clearance of lantana

and freeing of forest floor areas for growth of native flora

species of grass and plants

◦ Provide additional incentive to people engaged in activity

through a bio-diversity incentive - to make it viable /

comparable to other wage earning options

An idea we are working on…

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust

Thank you

(c)Junglescapes Charitable Trust