What makes a good fire? Local actor- and science-based knowledge of fuel-related functional traits of Chaco plants

Abstract

On the basis of knowledge and values from different social actors, we investigated what biophysical properties of the wood are linked to good-quality firewood in the semiarid Chaco forest of central-western Argentina. We applied social actor-tailored semi-structured interviews to incorporate the perspectives of: a) two kinds of local social actors who carry out their productive activities in the forest (subsistence farmers and cattle ranchers), and b) ecologists. We identified plant attributes associated with the desirable or undesirable qualities after lighting firewood, and tested them through an innovative experimental game. We then calculated the fuel value index of each native woody species of the study area mentioned by local actors as a firewood source, on the basis of quantitative measurements, and compared it with their stated preference, finding partial coincidence. This is because, while the fuel value index includes some traits considered relevant, when assessing firewood quality people also consider other factors that do not intervene in this index (e.g., abundance, accessibility, effort, market preferences). The inputs from different kinds of knowledge and the implementation of qualitative and quantitative strategies gave a broader view of the valuation of plants for firewood, representing a much richer picture than that offered by each knowledge system and approach separately.

Keywords

• firewood
• plant functional traits
• Semiarid Chaco
• Argentina
• plural valuation of biodiversity
• nature’s contributions to people