Cold hearths and barren slopes: The woodfuel crisis in the Third World
With depleting forests and rapidly shrinking supplies of firewood and charcoal, a vast section of the Third World population, still dependent primarily and often solely on such woodfuels for its domestic energy, is facing a crisis. Drawing upon evidence from across Asia, Africa and parts of Latin America, Dr. Bina Agarwal analyses the scale of this other energy crisis, its complex causes, its consequences, and the solutions being offered for its alleviation. Most attempts by governments and international agencies to promote afforestation and improved woodburning stoves as solutions, are found to have had little success. In particular, they seldom reach and benefit the rural poor who are the principal sufferers. Why have these efforts failed. The socio-economic inequalities and poverty that characterize most Third World societies, impinge both on the causes of the crisis and on the effectiveness of schemes to alleviate it. Class and gender biases usually underlie such schemes, which are also typified by a tip-down method of planning and implementation.
- OSTI ID:
- 6378037
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
09 BIOMASS FUELS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
WOOD FUELS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
CHARCOAL
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SHORTAGES
FORESTRY
FORESTS
IMPLEMENTATION
PLANNING
RESOURCE DEPLETION
RURAL AREAS
STOVES
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES
ADSORBENTS
APPLIANCES
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
SHORTAGES
294003* - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas
290200 - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology
292000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
090400 - Solid Waste & Wood Fuels- (-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)