One of the most pressing challenges in global natural resources management is to satisfy the increasing demand for fuelwood by private households. In many regions consumption of fuelwood (firewood and charcoal) by far exceeds natural regeneration. Consumption of energy wood is reckoned third in causing worldwide deforestation, after land conversion for agriculture and infrastructure purposes. Worldwide, about 4000 deaths per year are attributed to lack of access to proper cooking devices. Mainly children and elderly suffer from respiratory and other disesases as a consequence of inhaling indoor smoke.

In the developing world, an estimated 2.4 billion people depend on biomass for their energy supplies. Population growth will spur this figure in the coming decade. For most poor, alternative energy sources to fuelwod, such as electricity, gas or cerosine, will remain unaffordable. Widespread urbanization goes along with more extensive charcoal consumption – which, due to energy loss in the carbonization process, triples the corresponding raw wood demand.

There are several options to address the problem. On the side of consumption, disseminating and supporting improved stove and e.g. insulation technologies have progressed. ECO consultants help secure context adaptation and low-cost sustenance of stoves, conduct training and information campaigns and assist in dissemination and monitoring.

ECO assists in a number of areas, such as:

• computer-based model simulations, GIS application
• capacity building - training - facilitation
• socio-economic assessments, policy, legal institu tional advice, economic valuation
• planning and implementation of supply enhancement and demand management.

Burundi: Collecting wood. Fuelwood is the prime source of household energy in Sahelian countries

Women are main stakeholders when it comes to household energy.

Your contact:
Cornelia Sepp