Number: 2007-025-1-300
Title: Chemical issues in biomass burning in Sub-Saharan
Africa
Task Group
Chairman: Liliana
Mammino
Members: Geoffrey
N. Kamau, Pietro Tundo,
Teunis van Ree, and Mark F. Zaranyika
Objective:
- To stimulate interactions, collaborations and networking on an
issue that is of continental interest in Sub-Saharan Africa and
that has environmental impact (including climate-related impact).
- To highlight the role of chemistry in environment-related issues.
- To serve as prototype for other projects/books focusing on issues
of interest on a regional/continental scale.
Description:
Biomass burning is practiced extensively in many areas in Sub-Saharan
Africa, producing gas and aerosol emissions, including greenhouse
ones. The problem has been the object of studies from various points
of view (environmental monitoring, impact on climate change, atmospheric
chemistry, etc.).
The current proposal is motivated by the consideration
that any attempt to addressing the problem needs to take into account
an ensemble of aspects, most of them common to many countries, and
needs to rely on appropriate dissemination of information, as a
necessary condition for consent from the communities concerned.
The project envisages the preparation of a book with
contributions from different (as many as possible) countries in
Sub-Saharan Africa, along a pattern analogous to the series Green
Chemistry in Africa, Green Chemistry in Latin America, etc., already
endorsed by the Subcommittee on Green Chemistry. Contributions are
expected to consider the chemical aspects of all the issues associated
with biomass burning, from the impacts (on the environment, on crop
production, etc.) to the possible addressing options (alternative
utilizations of biomass).
The project is apt to underline the role of chemistry
as the central science for the investigation and addressing of environmental
problems and the significance of the interfaces between chemistry
and the other investigation- areas involved. It can therefore also
contribute to enhance the perception of the role of chemistry in
investigating/addressing issues of general interest.
It is also envisaged that the project can be serve
as a prototype for a series of books focusing on problems that are
relevant for a continent or a subcontinent and that can be investigated,
discussed and addressed from the point of view of Green Chemistry.
The project also responds to the recommendations of a special focus
on Africa (e.g., by ICSU).