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Sustainable production of commercial woodfuel: lessons and guidance from two strategies |
Mar 2010 |
Woodfuels (firewood - or fuelwood - and charcoal) are the most important energy source and the most important forest product for most developing countries. Commonly, woodfuels contribute from 50 to 90% of all energy consumed in a country, and at the same time represent about 60 to 80% of all wood consumed.
Although woodfuels are perceived as cheap energy, and commonly as a primitive source of energy suitable for the poor, commercial woodfuel value chains often grow to significant proportions, involve considerable amounts of money and provide a source of income for the rural and urban poor.
Woodfuels, however, can also be a cause of forest degradation and eventually deforestation when demanded by concentrated markets, such as large and small businesses, and urban household markets. Industrial and other business demand for woodfuels can be a serious threat to local forest resources if supplying that demand is not properly regulated, especially when strong demand exists within a small geographic area. The same applies for household consumption within larger urban areas, where woodfuel traders scour wooded areas near the cities to supply the year-round urban market.
Where woodfuels are the principal forest product within a given region, sustainable management and use of the forest are imperative. Sustainable forest management depends on a balanced combination of effective forest governance/law enforcement, and particular incentives for local stakeholders (such as technical assistance and promotion of transparent and equitable market frameworks) which together should facilitate the emergence of true market prices.
This report illustrates two alternative approaches to promoting sustainable woodfuel production by farmers and communities with a commercial focus. The report aims to provide readers with a thorough analysis of these two approaches, focusing on strategic aspects, guiding principles, overall results, and lessons learned. These approaches are:
i) Community Based Woodfuel Production (CBWP) as observed in Sub-Saharan Africa; and
ii) Forest Replacement Associations (FRA) as observed in Latin America.
The main goal of this booklet is to review these experiences, which have both been in operation in several locations for 20 years, and to analyze the failures and successes of each.
By: R. C. de Miranda, S. Sepp, E. Ceccon, S. Mann, B. Singh (ESMAP)
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