Fuelwood demand and supply in Rwanda and the role of agroforestry

Abstract

Fuelwood in Rwanda is assumed to come from forests and woodlands, thus contributing to large-scale deforestation. Available studies on fuelwood demand and supply support this assumption and indicate a continuously rising demand of fuelwood, notably from forest plantations. These assertions are insufficiently substantiated as existing forest stock may not be depleted by rapid increase in demand for food and energy resources resulting from population growth, but rather from the need for agricultural land. Evidence suggests that the demands for fuelwood, in addition to other sources of energy, is supplied from agroforestry systems which has not been quantified so far. This review analyses sources and use of fuelwood in Rwanda, indicating the importance of on-farms trees and woodlots in fuelwood supply. It is concluded that the effect of fuelwood consumption on land use is difficult to disentangle as many other factors including land clearing for agriculture, livestock farming, human settlements, illegal cutting of valuable timber species, the demand for charcoal in towns and past conflicts, contributed significantly to the high rate of deforestation in the country. If fuelwood demand is to be met on a sustainable basis, more fuelwood has to be produced on agricultural lands and in forest plantations through species site matching and proper management.

Tracking Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics in Cloud Prone Areas Using Moderate Resolution Satellite Data: A Case Study in Central Africa

“…In many settled areas the population density is exceptionally high (150-800 people/km 2 ) due to its favorable climate to cultivation [44]. Currently, nearly 90 percent of the population in the region is dependent on subsistence farming for their livelihood [45,46]. However, intensive agriculture practices in the areas have led to extensive problems of soil runoff and erosion [38].…”

Farming with trees: a balancing act in the shade

“…acuminata is most preferred in this area since it provides stakes for climbing beans (Bucagu 2013), fixes nitrogen, and is less competitive with crops especially under the intense pruning regime applied by farmers in this region (Peden et al 1993;Ndayambaje and Mohren 2011).…”

“…Other researchers in Rwanda (Bucagu, 2013;Mugunga, 2016) argued that yield decline in agroforestry could be compensated for by the value of tree products. While yield benefits are a good starting point for an economic evaluation (Cannell et al, 1996), agroforestry might give greater economic benefits than sole-crop or sole-tree systems (Price, 1995) especially in highly populated areas where the demand for forest products is not met (Ndayambaje and Mohren, 2011) and alternative food sources are available on local markets.…”

“…Woody biomass is the primary source of energy in East Africa, and this situation is expected to remain unchanged for at least the two coming decades (Iiyama et al 2017;Drigo et al 2013). Agroforestry supplies large amounts of fuelwood and contributes to reducing deforestation (Ndayambaje and Mohren 2011). In Rwanda, the forest area was estimated at 29.6% in 2015, with only 0.6% of the country remaining to reach the 30% maximum forest area target.…”

“…The demand for tree products and the expansion of agricultural land in Africa has led to deforestation (Barbier, 2004) and shortage of tree products in densely populated countries. In the highlands of East Africa, the dense population has cleared forests leading farmers to integrate trees on farms of ever decreasing size (Allen and Barnes, 1985;Ndayambaje and Mohren, 2011). The pressure on land availability also led farmers to cultivate steeply sloping areas, sometimes with grades exceeding 60%; this leads to risks of severe soil erosion which could be alleviated by trees.…”