This study investigated how rural households cope with firewood scarcity in dryland areas of Eastern Uganda. A household survey was conducted in December 2008 to January 2009, where 490 respondents were randomly inter...This study investigated how rural households cope with firewood scarcity in dryland areas of Eastern Uganda. A household survey was conducted in December 2008 to January 2009, where 490 respondents were randomly interviewed. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were also held with community elders and women. Responses were analyzed both descriptively and qualitatively. Findings indicated that 99% of the households used firewood for cooking with a per capita consumption of 542.32 Kilograms. Commonly used tree species included Combretnum molle (42.7%) and Acacia polyacantha willd (18.2%). Over 78% of the households have a preference for acacia tree species for firewood. In particular, Acacia polyacantha willd (60.3%), Acacia hockii (16.9%) and Combretum collinum (9.6%) were the most preferred tree species. The scarcity of firewood supply was eminent from the average distance (2 ± 7 Km) traveled by collectors in search of them. Firewood collectors spent 1 to 10 hours with an average of 3 hours weekly in firewood collection activities. This resulted in per annum estimated opportunity cost of Shillings 432,000 (US 232 dollars) for those who collected on weekly basis and Shillings 1,080,000 shillings (US 580 dollars) for those who collected on daily basis. The frequency of collection decreased as distance increased among 89% of the households. Minority of households (1%) have resorted to deliberately planting trees on their own farms to ease problems of firewood shortage, and to modification of biomass stove so as to use less firewood. Households in their endeavour to circumvent the problem of continued scarcity have resorted to poorer quality tree/bushes for firewood (71.2%), alongside other coping strategies such as cooking meals once a day, avoidance of cooking some food types (70%), and using crop residues as fuel source (60%). There is a need for scaling-up on-farm tree planting as well as the use of improved biomass cook stoves in the region.展开更多
A proper assessment of the rate of unsustainable consumption of biomass fuel is important to determine the extent of the consequent environmental effects. In this paper, an evaluation was made of the rate of fuelwood ...A proper assessment of the rate of unsustainable consumption of biomass fuel is important to determine the extent of the consequent environmental effects. In this paper, an evaluation was made of the rate of fuelwood (firewood and charcoal) consumption in Maiduguri metropolis, the capital of Borno state in Nigeria. Firewood and charcoal are the main solid biomass fuels consumed in Maiduguri city, in addition to rarely used animal dung, thatch, leaves, etc. These fuels are usually used in households, markets and industries for cooking, roasting and bakery activities. To quantify the rate of consumption of these fuels in Maiduguri (and their eventual negative effects), data were collected on the rate of supply of the biomass along highways leading to the city. The result shows a total consumption rate of 366 t/day of solid biomass fuel, with firewood accounting for 288 t/day and charcoal makes up the remaining 78 t/day. This fuelwood consumption rate is around 0.15% of the national figure. The resulting emissions of CO2, CH4, N2O, SO2, NOx, NMVOC, CO, NH3, PM10 and PM2.5 in kg/day are 433,488, 2160, 46, 83, 394, 2796, 34,699, 19.01, 5031 and 4884 respectively. Emissions of greenhouse gases stood at 497 t COe/day or 181,314 t CO2/year. A strategic shift to cleaner stoves and low carbon fuels is feasible and will enhance sustainable energy use.展开更多
After Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991, the importance of the primary sector for food- and energy-supply increased significantly. This has led to a discussion about the sustainability of current firewood use. We...After Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991, the importance of the primary sector for food- and energy-supply increased significantly. This has led to a discussion about the sustainability of current firewood use. We investigated firewood collection and use practices in three selected villages and analysed differences between the annual increment of woody biomass and firewood consumption for heating during winter months. The calculated individual firewood consumption is on average 3.90 kg/capita/heating day and the calculation of differences between increment and consumption shows that in minimum one village the surrounding forests are overused for firewood collection. Pressure on the forest and the overuse of preferred tree species for firewood can lead to an overuse of the resource and to a decrease in the genetic diversity of these species in the walnut-fruit forests which are considered as a biodiversity hotspot of international significance due to the diversity of woody.展开更多
Declining soil fertility has become an increasingly urgent problem and gathering firewood is one of the important contributing factors.Due to the excessive exploitation of natural resources especially for firewood,the...Declining soil fertility has become an increasingly urgent problem and gathering firewood is one of the important contributing factors.Due to the excessive exploitation of natural resources especially for firewood,the red soil hilly region has become one of the most vulnerable eco-environment regions in China.The pressure of gathering firewood on forestland soil fertility in forestland has been generally estimated by geographical information system and questionnaire method in this paper in the Zhuxi watershed of Changting County,Fujian Province,China,a typical representative in the red soil hilly region of China.The results of this study show that：i） Forestland soil fertility is negatively affected by gathering firewood,which is more intensive in the integrated buffer zone than out of zone.The forestland soil fertility grade,OM,total N,available N,total P,available P,total K,available K,pH and ＆lt;2μm clay content are lower and bulk density is higher in the integrated buffer zone than those out.ii） The forestland soil fertility grade,OM,total N,available N,total P,available P,total K,available K,pH and ＆lt;2μm clay content tend to be lower and bulk density tends to be higher in the village buffer zones than those out in Datian,Chenguang and Youfang respectively.iii） The population density,economic development and terrain might be the key driving forces contributing to the relationship between gathering firewood and forestland soil fertility.Higher population density leads to more massive firewood collection and imposes more pressure on forestland soil fertility.Decreasing the use of firewood stove may reduce firewood consumption and thus release the pressure of gathering firewood on forestland soil fertility.Terrain affects the accessibility to gathering firewood thus affects forestland soil fertility.Other driving forces influencing the relationship between gathering firewood and forestland soil fertility should also be taken into account in the further study.展开更多
文摘This study investigated how rural households cope with firewood scarcity in dryland areas of Eastern Uganda. A household survey was conducted in December 2008 to January 2009, where 490 respondents were randomly interviewed. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were also held with community elders and women. Responses were analyzed both descriptively and qualitatively. Findings indicated that 99% of the households used firewood for cooking with a per capita consumption of 542.32 Kilograms. Commonly used tree species included Combretnum molle (42.7%) and Acacia polyacantha willd (18.2%). Over 78% of the households have a preference for acacia tree species for firewood. In particular, Acacia polyacantha willd (60.3%), Acacia hockii (16.9%) and Combretum collinum (9.6%) were the most preferred tree species. The scarcity of firewood supply was eminent from the average distance (2 ± 7 Km) traveled by collectors in search of them. Firewood collectors spent 1 to 10 hours with an average of 3 hours weekly in firewood collection activities. This resulted in per annum estimated opportunity cost of Shillings 432,000 (US 232 dollars) for those who collected on weekly basis and Shillings 1,080,000 shillings (US 580 dollars) for those who collected on daily basis. The frequency of collection decreased as distance increased among 89% of the households. Minority of households (1%) have resorted to deliberately planting trees on their own farms to ease problems of firewood shortage, and to modification of biomass stove so as to use less firewood. Households in their endeavour to circumvent the problem of continued scarcity have resorted to poorer quality tree/bushes for firewood (71.2%), alongside other coping strategies such as cooking meals once a day, avoidance of cooking some food types (70%), and using crop residues as fuel source (60%). There is a need for scaling-up on-farm tree planting as well as the use of improved biomass cook stoves in the region.
文摘A proper assessment of the rate of unsustainable consumption of biomass fuel is important to determine the extent of the consequent environmental effects. In this paper, an evaluation was made of the rate of fuelwood (firewood and charcoal) consumption in Maiduguri metropolis, the capital of Borno state in Nigeria. Firewood and charcoal are the main solid biomass fuels consumed in Maiduguri city, in addition to rarely used animal dung, thatch, leaves, etc. These fuels are usually used in households, markets and industries for cooking, roasting and bakery activities. To quantify the rate of consumption of these fuels in Maiduguri (and their eventual negative effects), data were collected on the rate of supply of the biomass along highways leading to the city. The result shows a total consumption rate of 366 t/day of solid biomass fuel, with firewood accounting for 288 t/day and charcoal makes up the remaining 78 t/day. This fuelwood consumption rate is around 0.15% of the national figure. The resulting emissions of CO2, CH4, N2O, SO2, NOx, NMVOC, CO, NH3, PM10 and PM2.5 in kg/day are 433,488, 2160, 46, 83, 394, 2796, 34,699, 19.01, 5031 and 4884 respectively. Emissions of greenhouse gases stood at 497 t COe/day or 181,314 t CO2/year. A strategic shift to cleaner stoves and low carbon fuels is feasible and will enhance sustainable energy use.
基金supported by Swiss National Science Foundation,the Karl Popper Foundation and the Vontobel Foundation in the framework of the project"ORECH-LES"
文摘After Kyrgyzstan gained independence in 1991, the importance of the primary sector for food- and energy-supply increased significantly. This has led to a discussion about the sustainability of current firewood use. We investigated firewood collection and use practices in three selected villages and analysed differences between the annual increment of woody biomass and firewood consumption for heating during winter months. The calculated individual firewood consumption is on average 3.90 kg/capita/heating day and the calculation of differences between increment and consumption shows that in minimum one village the surrounding forests are overused for firewood collection. Pressure on the forest and the overuse of preferred tree species for firewood can lead to an overuse of the resource and to a decrease in the genetic diversity of these species in the walnut-fruit forests which are considered as a biodiversity hotspot of international significance due to the diversity of woody.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.40871141,41001170,41171232)
文摘Declining soil fertility has become an increasingly urgent problem and gathering firewood is one of the important contributing factors.Due to the excessive exploitation of natural resources especially for firewood,the red soil hilly region has become one of the most vulnerable eco-environment regions in China.The pressure of gathering firewood on forestland soil fertility in forestland has been generally estimated by geographical information system and questionnaire method in this paper in the Zhuxi watershed of Changting County,Fujian Province,China,a typical representative in the red soil hilly region of China.The results of this study show that：i） Forestland soil fertility is negatively affected by gathering firewood,which is more intensive in the integrated buffer zone than out of zone.The forestland soil fertility grade,OM,total N,available N,total P,available P,total K,available K,pH and ＆lt;2μm clay content are lower and bulk density is higher in the integrated buffer zone than those out.ii） The forestland soil fertility grade,OM,total N,available N,total P,available P,total K,available K,pH and ＆lt;2μm clay content tend to be lower and bulk density tends to be higher in the village buffer zones than those out in Datian,Chenguang and Youfang respectively.iii） The population density,economic development and terrain might be the key driving forces contributing to the relationship between gathering firewood and forestland soil fertility.Higher population density leads to more massive firewood collection and imposes more pressure on forestland soil fertility.Decreasing the use of firewood stove may reduce firewood consumption and thus release the pressure of gathering firewood on forestland soil fertility.Terrain affects the accessibility to gathering firewood thus affects forestland soil fertility.Other driving forces influencing the relationship between gathering firewood and forestland soil fertility should also be taken into account in the further study.
