Firewood consumption around Budongo Forest Reserve in western Uganda

Abstract

Wood fuel is renewable. but its consumption can be sustained when the rate of harvesting does not exceed the growtb rate. For a per capita firewood consumption of 0.7 m³ in Masindi and 0.6 m³ in Hoima District, age, sex, and family size. influenced the levels of fuelwood consumption. Willingness to participate in communal management of forest resources was influenced by gender and age. It is recommended that conservation of fuel wood resources should be encouraged by introducing efficient cooking stoves and other energy saving measures. In addition, communities should be encouraged and facilitated to plant woodlots so as to reduce their dependance on fuelwood resources from communal and government forest reserves.