Bioenergy - Realizing the Potential

Chapter 5

Managing Fuelwood Supply in Himalayan

Mountain Forests

Kamal Rijal

5.1. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOREST SECTOR IN MOUNTAIN AREAS

In recent years, planning in the forestry sector has evolved to focus on how forest

products (primarily, fuelwoo d and timber) can be utilized on a sustainable basis to

contribute to su stainable development (FAO, 1993; Shen and Contreras-Hermosilla

1995). This is even more important in mountain areas, which are environmentally

more vulnerable than the plains due to their fragile ecosystems. In addition, con-

tradictions may exist between long-term development goals and the short-term

necessities of the mountain population. Resolving this contradiction is a prerequisite

for establishing the long-term vision needed to achieve changes in mountain energy

systems along a sustainable path.

Sustainable de velopment in the mountain areas depends on the capacity to

develop woodfuel-based energy aiming at fulfilling the energy needs of mountain

communities and increasing productivity, without jeopardizing livelihoods or

depleting the forest resource base. An appropriate approach to accomplish this is

to value the environment and treat it as a central feature in wood-b ased energy

planning in the mountain areas. The choice between various forms of energy needs

to be assessed, and the value of environmental stocks and flows must be accounted

for, along with the role of forests as carbon sinks (Durning, 1993). The quality of life

and environm ental balance should be considered as important as economic growth.

In terms of fuelwood, the main concern is with resources that can be exploited for

short-term benefits, which ultimately may destroy the resource ba se. To prioritize

long-term benefits is difficult as most mountain communities lack other fuel cho ices.

Commercial fuels and renewable energy technologies are usually not available in

these areas and are not within easy reach. Even if availability of other options

increases, there is still the issue of low affordability among the communities. It is

therefore important to devise a mechanism of control over resources and decisions

on development paths which is kept in the hands of the mountain communities

themselves. The communities need to be given the power to influence the decisions

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Bioenergy – Realizing the Potential

ß 2005 Dr Semida Silveira

Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.