FUELWOOD AND ENERGY IN EASTERN AFRICA : AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ENERGY USES

Although rapid increases in population and energy demands have led East Africa to consume energy at a faster rate than the developed world, the region has minimal exploitable energy resources. Increasingly costly fossil fuels must be imported. Given the region"s depressed economic status, fuelwood (firewood and charcoal) is the only feasible energy source for its poor. Such is the main conclusion of this report on East Africa"s current energy situation. Although firewood was a viable energy source until recently, continuous firewood collection has led to progressive deforestation and desertification. Furthermore, villagers must now travel increasing distances for firewood, thereby losing increasing amounts of productive time. Accordingly, small firewood collection and distribution enterprises have evolved. Also, as forests retreat from populated areas, the use of charcoal (which is easier to transport than firewood, but whose production consumes forests even more quickly than does firewood collection) is increasing. Several constraints to an effective reforestation/fuelwood program exist. The current artificial deflation in fuelwood prices (due to the availability of "free" firewood) discourages investments in reforestation/fuelwood enterprises. Developing a regenerating fuelwood forest demands a long-term commitment. Peasants, however, fear that with the present trend toward private land ownership, the land they hold by tenure may one day be purchased by others who will harvest the fruit of the peasants" work. It is difficult to convince them to cultivate future firewood resources when their fuelwood needs are immediate. This report recommends small community forestation projects as the most viable approach to solving fuelwood needs. Implementing such projects will demand long-term commitments by concerned institutions; enactment of laws ensuring community ownership of the lands cultivated; selection of suitable tree species; and inclusion of the communities in project planning -- especially to educate community members in the methods and benefits of reforestation. Nine substantive appendices are included.