MANAGING BIOMASS RESOURCES: Case of

Fuelwood Supply

YONARIZAAndalas University

1. Main stream in fuelwood literature has been that fuelwood extraction lead to deforestation.

Background

2. Less and less research was done on fuelwood use and supplies.

Background

3. Approximately 2.4 billion people currently use wood and other forms of biomass for cooking and heating

Background

4. 50-60% of the energy in developing countries of Asia, and 70-90% in Africa comes from wood or biomass and half the world cooks with wood.

Background

5. Rural electrification does not change sources of energy for thermal need

Background

6. In Indonesia (used to be petroleum exporting country), fuel wood demand is estimated at 150 million M3 annually. Annual use of biomass energy (fuelwood and charcoal) per capita is 8.1 GJ

Background

7. Fuel wood supplies to urban markets sources mainly from farm clearance rather than forest areas, fuelwood use is not a major cause of deforestation.

Background

8. Biomass could supply a large part of the world's energy, through effective forest management, advance harvesting techniques and more efficient stoves and biolers.

Background

9. Wood fuel from sustainable sources offers significant opportunities to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the dangers of climate change.

Background

10. There is need to develop/expand fuelwood use as alternative source of energy under fossil fuel crisis

Background

Question

1. How is supply condition of fuelwood in rural areas recently?

Question

2. What is policy implication of these findings for fuelwood development?

Question

3. What short research and methodologies for fuel wood development?

Significance

1. Fuelwood has been neglected in energy policy

Significance

2. All biomass energy as alternative to fossil fuel has their own advantages and disadvantages, diversification of biomass energy is an alternative in itself

Significance

3. Future energy development will be context specific based on locally available resource, most probably biomass energy

The study

• Household survey on linkages between forest in protected area with local livelihood

• Total household sample was 299• Data collection was carried out in 2005

Study area

Study area

• Covering 4 districts• Located near Singkarak Hydro Electric

Power Plant

Source of energy for cooking Total (%)Fire wood 264 (88.29)Non firewood 35 (11.71)Total 299 (100)

Number of household by source of energy for cooking

Source: Yonariza (2007)

Energy for light

Source of energy for lighting Frequency Percent

Diesel 10 3.3national power grid 212 70.9

Kerosene 77 25.8

Total 299 100.0

Source: Yonariza (2007)

Type of tree Total Wild tree 69 (23.1)Planted tree 145 (48.5)Not collecting 85 (28.4)Total 299 (100.0)

Type of tree for firewood

Source: Yonariza (2007)

Number household sample by type of tree used for firewood and source of firewood

Type of treeSource of firewood

Wild tree Planted treeConservation forest 1 (100.0) 0Protection forest 3 (42.86) 4 (57.14)Communal forest 50 (39.06) 76 (59.38)Agroforest 44 (27.16) 108 (66.67)

Source: Yonariza (2007)

Number of household by type of tree for firewood and by involvement in forest farming

Tree for firewoodInvolved in forest farming Wild tree Planted tree

No 23(7.69%)

39(13.04%)

44(14.72%)

106(35.45%)

Yes 46(15.38%)

106(35.45%)

41(13.71%)

193(64.55%)

Total69

(23.08%)145

(48.49%)85

(28.43%)299

(100.00%)

Not using fire wood Total

Source: Yonariza (2007)

Indigenous knowledge on tree species for firewoodThere are 53 different trees used for firewood

Local tree name Frequency Percent1. Kulik Manih 79 21.62. Kopi 66 18.13. Kelapa 36 9.94. Parah 35 9.65. Rambutan 12 3.36. Patai 11 3.07. Jariang 10 2.78. Sapek 10 2.79. Jirak 8 2.210. Kandih 8 2.211. Surian 7 1.912. ANONIM 6 1.613. Bayua 6 1.614. Durian 4 1.115. Laban 4 1.116. Lasi 4 1.1

Source: Yonariza (2007)

Firewood and livelihood

Motive of collecting firewood TotalOwn consumption 169 (56.5)For sale 47 (15.8)Not collecting firewood 83 (27.8)Total 299 (100.0)

Implication for fuelwood development• Scarcity of fossil fuel• Domestication of wild tree for fuelwood• Widespread of agroforest in Indonesia need

policy and support program• Non-forest fuelwood in fulfilling domestic energy

in rural areas• Indonesia is a giant sleeping garden (bamboo-

tree gardens, home garden, forest fringe areas)• Advancement of fuelwood based technology

need specific tree species for fuelwood, lower

Policy implication• Protect and support agroforest system• Develop fuelwood technology • Helping small farmers to adopt practices which

enable them to generate more fuelwood from their woody biomass.

• Traditional knowledge (TK) associated with tree species good for fuelwood has the potential of being translated into commercial benefits (WTO, 2000). It must be protected.

• Setup “Biomass Energy Division” at Ministry of Agriculture

Implication for further research

• determining preferred firewood species in different agro-ecological setting,

• Analyzing biophysical performance and social suitability of potential species.

• Impact of fossil fuel price on biomass (firewood) consumption

Conclusion

• Fuelwood is potential source of biomass energy under fossil fuel crisis

• Need clear policy to support fuelwood supply and use

• Empirical data on firewood consumption as effect of increase in fossil fuel price needed to be updated.