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National Tree Day Planet Ark Home
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Workers cover a pile of tree trunks with fir branches and charcoal dust which will be used to make charcoal near the remote village of Romoos, central Switzerland. |
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| SWITZERLAND: August 22, 2008 | ||
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Swiss farmer and charcoal maker Markus Wicki (L) and a worker cover a pile of tree trunks with fir branches and charcoal dust which will be used to make charcoal near the remote village of Romoos, central Switzerland May 30, 2008.
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The Wickis are one of few mountain farming families in the region of the Napf mountains who have carried on the generations old tradition of natural charcoal making, using a slow-burning pile procedure. The pile, once it is lit, needs to be constantly checked every three hours during the process which takes up to three weeks. The charcoal is only produced from Spring to Autumn and can fetch up to 10.20 Swiss Francs (6.30 euros) per six kilo bag.
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Story by Michael Buholzer |
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Photo by MICHAEL BUHOLZER |
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REUTERS NEWS PICTURE SERVICE
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