Roles Of Fuelwood
Fuelwood, defined as “woodfuel in which the original composition of the wood is preserved”, accounts for most of the energy supply of many dispersed and poor rural populations around the world (FAO 2007). Fuelwood plays an important and diverse role in the rural livelihoods of millions of people in developing countries. According to Scoones (2009) a livelihood comprises of “the capabilities, assets and activities for a means a living. This short essay will discuss the role of fuelwood in maintaining and improving rural livelihoods in developing countries. The method of economic valuation will also be addressed and discussed.
Assessment
Fuelwood plays a diverse role in rural livelihoods in developing countries. It helps maintain rural livelihoods …show more content…
For example, a survey from nine villages in Bihar showed that fuelwood was the major source of income for 20% of the households (Khare et al., 2000). However, for the majority of rural households, fuelwood appears to act as a strategy to diversify sources of income in addition to e.g. farming. Consequently, it widely serves the role as a ‘safety net’ (in common with others non-timber forest products (NTFPs)) for rural households when the predominant livelihood strategy fails or proves insufficient to maintain a desired standard of living (i.e. seasonality/failure of domesticated crops or social factors) (Angelsen et al., 2003; Arnold et al., 2003). For example, Gandar (1994) observed an increase in the number of people involved in fuelwood activities in Zambia when crop income …show more content…
Due to easy access to resource and market, the fuelwood trade, despite of high demand, is usually characterized by high competition, high transportation- and transaction costs and subsequently very low returns (Arnold et al., 2003). Consequently, reliance on income from collection, trade and sale of fuelwood is for many people a livelihood of last resort, who engages in more rewarding activities when available. As noted in Arnold et al. (2003) an increase in fuelwood demand might also cause a diversion of fuelwood from own consumption to sale, resulting in less equitable conditions for woman who rely on continued supply of fuelwood for household use and
Assessment
Fuelwood plays a diverse role in rural livelihoods in developing countries. It helps maintain rural livelihoods …show more content…
For example, a survey from nine villages in Bihar showed that fuelwood was the major source of income for 20% of the households (Khare et al., 2000). However, for the majority of rural households, fuelwood appears to act as a strategy to diversify sources of income in addition to e.g. farming. Consequently, it widely serves the role as a ‘safety net’ (in common with others non-timber forest products (NTFPs)) for rural households when the predominant livelihood strategy fails or proves insufficient to maintain a desired standard of living (i.e. seasonality/failure of domesticated crops or social factors) (Angelsen et al., 2003; Arnold et al., 2003). For example, Gandar (1994) observed an increase in the number of people involved in fuelwood activities in Zambia when crop income …show more content…
Due to easy access to resource and market, the fuelwood trade, despite of high demand, is usually characterized by high competition, high transportation- and transaction costs and subsequently very low returns (Arnold et al., 2003). Consequently, reliance on income from collection, trade and sale of fuelwood is for many people a livelihood of last resort, who engages in more rewarding activities when available. As noted in Arnold et al. (2003) an increase in fuelwood demand might also cause a diversion of fuelwood from own consumption to sale, resulting in less equitable conditions for woman who rely on continued supply of fuelwood for household use and