Abstract
Developing countries still heavily rely on biomass to meet their basic energy needs. Such heavy reliance on traditional biomass is a threat to forest ecosystem and contributes to climate change. However, empirical evidence on the amount of fuelwood consumption and contribution to climate change were limited.
This study was carried out to investigate the household fuelwood consumption and its contribution to climate change, in Negele Arsi town, West Arsi zone, Ethiopia. Door to door survey, focus group discussion and key informant interview was made to gather relevant information. This study found fuelwood was the common and major energy source of the area accounting for 84.5% of the energy used for home-based activities. The survey results showed podocarpus faculties, Eucalyptus species, and Acacia Etbaica are the most preferred fuelwood species. It was found that about 212,831.5 tons of fuelwood has been consumed for baking Injera in the area and 13.1 tons of CO2e of CO2 was emitted from the individual household annually from the activity. Injera baking using mirt stove saved about 48.88% of fuelwood consumption of the area compared to the traditional open fire method. The household family size encountered with the type of business the family engaged in was affecting the extent of household fuelwood consumption. Fuelwood consumption was found a significant contributor of forest resources degradation and climate change.
Keywords: Fuelwood Consumption, Climate Change, Fuelwood, Greenhouse Gases Emission, Species Preference.
