Fuelwood consumption and deforestation in African countries. World Bank staff working paper

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5123874

Anderson, D; Fishwick, R

The paper reviews recent reports on the level and growth of fuelwood consumption in Africa, and on the ecological, economic and possible micro-climatic effects of deforestation. It then reviews the economic and operational aspects of policies open to governments (1) to encourage fuelwood conservation, (2) to facilitate the substitution of commercial energy for fuelwood, where desirable on grounds of relative costs, (3) in developing the traditional functions of the forestry services in maintaining the forest reserves and undertaking plantings in watersheds and shelterbelts, and (4) in promoting the practice of agro-forestry, i.e. the planting and maintenance of trees in copses and around farms by the farm families themselves. All four are important, but it is argued that (4) offers considerable promise in terms of increased planting rates, low budgetary requirements, ecological benefits and good economic and financial rates of return. The importance of the policy environment for the success of each is also discussed, as are the various research, education, training and other requirements of (4). (Copyright (c) 1984 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank.)

• Research Organization: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5123874
• Report Number(s): PB-85-209567/XAB; WP-704
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090400* -- Solid Waste & Wood Fuels-- (-1989)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290400 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
299003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
AFRICA
CONSUMPTION RATES
DEFORESTATION
ECOLOGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FARMS
FORESTRY
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MAINTENANCE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
WOOD FUELS