Charcoal production in the Argentine Dry Chaco: where, how and who?

The study finds that charcoal production in the Argentine Dry Chaco is dominated by individual or small-scale producers often associated with forest land cover, while larger kiln clusters are linked to cleared land for cultivation. While overall regional production has remained stable for 50 years, there has been a redistribution of activity from wealthier to poorer provinces. The authors conclude that small-scale production by poor rural populations currently provides the only market incentive for forest preservation, though it is characterized by inefficiency and forest degradation.

• Charcoal production in the Argentine Dry Chaco is primarily carried out by individuals or small groups of up to three units, which account for 58.2% of all kiln sites and are frequently associated with forest land cover. In contrast, large groups of 12 or more units (15.5% of all kilns) are associated with land cleared for cultivation.
• Regional charcoal production has remained stable over the last 50 years, but there has been a significant shift in activity from wealthier provinces to poorer ones. Analysis at the county level indicates an average output of 11 tons of charcoal per year per kiln.
• Small-scale charcoal production by poor rural populations is the only significant forest product use providing a market incentive for forest preservation, although this is linked to marginal social conditions, inefficient production, and forest degradation.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Charcoal production in the Argentine Dry Chaco: where, how and who? https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/charcoal-production-in-the-argentine-dry-chaco-where-how-and-who/

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Charcoal production in the Argentine Dry Chaco: where, how and who? 2025. https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/charcoal-production-in-the-argentine-dry-chaco-where-how-and-who/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Charcoal production in the Argentine Dry Chaco: where, how and who? |date=15 January 2025 |url=https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/charcoal-production-in-the-argentine-dry-chaco-where-how-and-who/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025charcoal, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Charcoal production in the Argentine Dry Chaco: where, how and who?}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://iai.int/es/pub_acad/charcoal-production-in-the-argentine-dry-chaco-where-how-and-who/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }