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Abstract
Deforestation is one of the most dramatic threats to environmental equilibrium and food safety in many regions of the world, and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is enhanced by many kinds of human activities, among which is the earth brick-firing process that needs large amounts of wood for attaining and maintaining temperatures required during this process. In order to reduce deforestation, the present study investigated from different points of view the potential of crude earth to be used as building material, taking as a case study the Logone Valley located at the border between Chad and Cameroon. First, an on-site investigation was made to verify the state-of-the-art of brick production technologies and to evaluate their impact on the environment. Subsequently, morphological and geotechnical analyses on soil samples collected from different sites of the Logone Valley were carried out, to evaluate their suitability to brick production. Finally, a pilot plant for crude earthen brick production was set, particularly based on a new press designed for this purpose.
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the European Union within the framework of ACP Science and Technology Programme, a programme of the ACP Group of States. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the ACP Secretariat and of the European Union.
Notes
1. ‘Applied research for natural resources valorisation and transformation in a process of fight against poverty in Chad and Cameroon’; subvention: FED/2009/217079; project website: www.valrena.org.
2. Central Africa CFA Franc; 1 EUR = 655.96 XAF.