A survey was conducted in 2001 to assess the activities of charcoal production in Pedra Bela, a small city in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The charcoal industry is considered the main economical activity in Pedra Bela, located at 150 km from the city of Sao Paulo,. The survey included basic questions, relevant for policy makers, and specific questions dealing with forest issues and production processes. This paper presents the main technical and economic results, obtained from direct surveys, queries and interviews applied to local farmers, community representatives and governmental agencies. The results show that eucalyptus - the main source of raw material for the charcoal production- is becoming scarce and the non-renewal of plantations can compromise the activity in the future. This work indicates the necessity of actions towards the strengthening and improvement of institutions engaged in rescuing the activity.
charcoal; economic analysis; social analysis and policy making
