Submit Manuscript

Research Journal of Forestry

Year: 2010 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 4 | Page No.: 194-201
Research Article

Can Fuel Switching from Wood to Liquefied Petroleum Gas Reduce the Deforestation in Sudan?

F.E. Eldirdiri
Institute of International Forestry and Forest Products,Dresden University of Technology, Cotta Bau,Pienner Straße 7, 01737 Tharandt, Germany
Yahia Omar Adam
Institute of International Forestry and Forest Products,Dresden University of Technology, Cotta Bau,Pienner Straße 7, 01737 Tharandt, Germany
The aim of this study was to estimate the quantities of charcoal and fuelwood consumed by rural household in relation to LPG and to investigate the potential of LPG in reducing the deforestation rate in Sudan. The study was conducted in 1998 and 2007 in two rural areas of the Gezira State in central Sudan. Primary and secondary data were collected based on the household survey and reviewing of the literature, respectively. A sample of 121 and 73 rural households were selected randomly from Alshikayrat and Fadasi rural areas, respectively. Descriptive analysis was applied using SPSS program. The study results showed that the average annual charcoal consumption reduced from 374.50 kg in 1998 to 79.80 kg in 2007. The fuelwood consumption decreased from 133.65 kg in 1998 to 38.70 kg in 2007. Charcoal per capita energy consumption reduced from 0.042 TOE in 1998 to 0.0084 TOE in 2007, whereas fuelwood per capita energy consumption decreased from 0.0089 TOE to 0.00259 TOE in 1998 and 2007, respectively. In the same timeframe, wood fuels dependency declined from 78.9% in 1998 to 5.2% in 2007. LPG dependency increased from 21.1% in 1998 to 94.9% in 2007. The study concluded that household shifting to LPG as energy source has positive external effect on deforestation problem in the country. Policies that enhance the LPG price reduction and availability are recommended. The results may help the policy makers and conservatisms to redesign and reframe alternative fuels plans than depending on wood fuels to reduce the deforestation rate.
PDF Fulltext XML References Citation

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Article Trend

Total views 3656

References

  1. Bearer, S., M. Linderman, J. Huang, L. An, H. Guangming and L. Jianguo, 2008. Effects of fuelwood collection and timber harvesting on giant panda habitat use. Biol. Conserv., 141: 385-393.
    CrossRef
  2. Ehui, S. and T. Hertel, 1989. Deforestation and agricultural productivity in the Cote D'Ivoire. Am. J. Agric. Econ., 71: 703-711.
    Direct Link
  3. FAO, 1994. Studies on Consumption of Forest Products in Sudan. Energy Research Institute, Forestry Department, Khartoum, Sudan.
  4. FAO, 1995. Forests, fuel and the future: Wood energy for sustainable development. Forestry Tropics Report No. 5. Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.fao.org/docrep/v9728e/v9728e00.HTM.
  5. FAO., 2001. State of the World's Forest. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
  6. FNC, 2000. Planning to install personal communications. FNC, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/pcomhelp/v5r9/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.pcomm.doc/books/html/quick_beginnings06.htm.
  7. Gezira State Ministry of Agriculture, 2005. Agriculture and animal wealth in Gezira State. Gezira State Ministry of Agriculture, Wad Medani-Sudan.
  8. Hassan, R.M. and G. Hertzler, 1988. Deforestation from overexploitation of wood resources as a cooking fuel: A dynamic approach to pricing energy resources in Sudan. Energy Econ., 98: 163-168.
    CrossRef
  9. Hassan, R., 1984. The economics of home cooking in Sudan. Petroleum Miner. Sudan 1: 41-45.
  10. Hassan, R., G. Hertzler and J.K.A. Benhin, 2009. Depletion of forest resources in Sudan: Intervention options optimal control. Energy Policy, 37: 1195-1203.
    Direct Link
  11. Maikhuri, R.K., 1991. Woodfuel consumption pattern of different tribal communities living in Arunachal Pradesh in North-East India. Bioresour. Technol., 35: 291-296.
    CrossRef
  12. Nautiyal, S. and H. Kaechele, 2008. Fuel switching from wood to LPG can benefit the environment. Environ. Impact Assess. Rev., 28: 523-532.
    CrossRef
  13. Osei, W.Y., 1993. Woodfuel and deforestation-answers for a sustainable environment. J. Environ. Manage., 37: 51-62.
    CrossRef
  14. Rogers, E.M., 2003. Diffusion of Innovations. 5th Edn., Free Press, New York, USA., pp: 27-30.
  15. WEC/FAO, 1999. The Challenge of Rural Energy Poverty in Developing Countries. World Energy Council, FAO, London.
    Direct Link
  16. Haile, K., M. Sandewall and K. Urgessa, 2009. Wood fuel demand and sustainability of supply in South-Western Ethiopia, case of Jimma Town. Res. J. Forestry, 3: 29-42.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  17. Arnold, M., G. Kohlin and R. Persson, 2006. Wood fuels, livelihoods and policy interventions: Changing perspectives. World Dev., 34: 596-611.
  18. Bensel, T., 2008. Fuel wood, deforestation and land degradation, 10 years of evidence from cebu province, the Philippines. Land Degrad. Dev., 19: 587-605.
    Direct Link
  19. Kaimowitz, D. and A. Angelsen, 1998. Economic Models of Tropical Deforestation. A Review. Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor.
  20. RWEDP., 1997. Regional Study on Wood Energy Today and Tomorrow in Asia. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Bangkok, Thailand.
  21. DeMontalembert, M.R. and J. Clement, 1983. Fuelwood Supplies in Developing Countries. Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
  22. World Bank/ESMAP., 2001. Sustainable Woodfuel Supplies from the Dry Tropical Woodlands. World Bank/ESMAP, Washington, DC.

Keywords