Publications by authors named "Mukufute Mukelabai"
We investigate cambial growth periodicity in Brachystegia spiciformis, a dominant tree species in the seasonally dry miombo woodland of southern Africa. To better understand how the brevi-deciduous (experiencing a short, drought-induced leaf fall period) leaf phenology of this species can be linked to a distinct period of cambial activity, we applied a bi-weekly pinning to six trees in western Zambia over the course of one year. Our results show that the onset and end of cambial growth was synchronous between trees, but was not concurrent with the onset and end of the rainy season.
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- This study assesses greenhouse gas emissions from charcoal production in Zambia, specifically examining the impacts on biomass and carbon flux in the miombo woodland at Kataba Forest Reserve.
- Findings indicated significant biomass loss due to logging for charcoal, with protected areas showing about 150 tons of aboveground biomass per hectare compared to only 24 tons in disturbed plots, although soil carbon levels remained stable.
- The study concludes that protecting miombo woodlands must consider local energy needs, as charcoal production results in considerable carbon emissions; shifting to alternative energy sources like electricity could reduce forest pressure but would require significant financial investment.