• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 04 / 05 / 2011

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When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, the saying goes. When life gives you marabú trees, make charcoal, export it and make money, say Cuban agricultural experts.

Woodsmen in the provinces of Cienfuegos, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey and Granma are cutting down marabú trees, carbonizing them through slow burning, and exporting the resulting charcoal to Europe, Radio Rebelde reports. Target production for this year is 20,000 tons.

The initiative, launched five years ago, reportedly contributed 3.2 million dollars to the nation's coffers last year, while helping combat the spread of the nuisance tree.

A spokesman for the Ciego de Ávila Citrics Company, which markets the product abroad, said marabú coal is shipped mostly to Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal and Greece.

Marabú (Dychrostachys cinerea) is a weed tree that grows unchecked throughout the island. It can grow as tall as 24 feet and its trunk's diameter can reach 6 inches. Its long thorns discourage most farmers from cutting it down.

But the density of its wood makes it desirable for the production of charcoal for home heating. And the smell of its smoke makes it acceptable for grilling and barbecueing. Marabú charcoal "is much in demand in Europe," the Citrics Company spokesman said.


Source: miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2011/04/a-use-exists-for-useless-marabú-tree.html