Future prospect and sustainability of wood fuel resources in Tanzania

Author

Mwema Felix

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, vol. 51, issue C, pages 856-862

Abstract: Tanzania is among the lowest income countries with the majority of the people living below a poverty line of less than US$ 2/day. Its energy sector is dominated by wood fuel, mainly charcoal and firewood with over 75% dependency. Wood resources for charcoal and firewood production are collected from a wide variety of tree species. The country has no formal biofuel policies thus leaving biofuel producers (including charcoal and firewood producers) without a reliable framework. This poses a danger to the forest resources and the environment. Little is known about the empirical findings on future prospect and sustainability of charcoal and firewood resources. This study reviewed over 100 articles on the state of the art of wood fuel resources in Tanzania, and the extent and degree of forest resource utilization and sustainability is assessed. Forest loss is estimated at 0.4 million ha per year. Results suggest that it would take about 85 years for all forest resources to be destroyed completely. Assuming year 2005 as a reference year, generations from year 2090 would be left with no forest resources to meet their needs. The study concludes that future prospect and sustainability of charcoal production and firewood harvesting in the country is at stake. Before any irreversible changes occur, it is therefore necessary to protecting forest resources using proper management strategies such as the use of alternative fuel resources, improved conversion technologies and deployment of participatory forest management.

Keywords: Charcoal; Electricity; Tanzania; Wood fuel; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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