Date of Award
2012
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Forestry (MS)
College, School or Department Name
School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Advisor
Thomas Grant Pypker
Abstract
Fuelwood is a major resource in rural areas. Fuelwood collection and consumption habits were monitored in Lupeta, Tanzania through household interviews and fuelwood collection walks. Social dimensions, economic aspects of fuelwood, and alternative fuel sources were also examined. The study found that for all wealth classes, fuelwood is the primary source of fuel used within the village, with the middle and upper classes occasionally supplementing fuelwood with charcoal. Women collect and consume fuelwood for cooking. The majority of women (69%) prefer to use charcoal because fuelwood collection is labor intensive and time consuming. While the use of charcoal would provide more time for other required household activities, local economic constraints inhibit their adoption. The fuel shift from biomass fuels to transition fuels is happening slowly in Lupeta from fuelwood to charcoal. As fuelwood becomes scarcer, improved methods will need to be adopted or the fuel source will change.
Recommended Citation
Preston, Katie M., "Fuelwood collection and consumption: a case study in Lupeta Tanzania", Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2012.