Sustainable Fuelwood Production In Kenya: Potential Role of Community Forest Associations

Sustainable Development Goal 7 emphasizes the need for affordable and sustainable modern energy. Wood-fuel is not a significant part of debates surrounding this goal despite its importance as a major energy source in developing countries. Policies concentrate on alternative sources of fuels, but these are often expensive to a majority of the populations in developing countries. This is coupled in some areas with charcoal bans as well as tough restrictions on wood fuel harvest in forests. This disproportionately affects the poor segment of the community who are not able to afford alternative sources of energy. More attention should be focused on biomass fuels such as wood fuel to make them renewable sources. This can be done through community-based forest management. The Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS) in Kenya is practiced through Participatory Forest Management (PFM) where forest adjacent communities are allocated forest land for three years where they grow trees and food crops. This scheme can be utilized for sustainable charcoal production by setting aside a piece of the land for growing trees suitable for charcoal production. This would provide the communities with viable sources of energy as well as income through the sale of wood fuel. There is potential in utilizing existing community-based management institutions to implement sustainable wood fuel production strategies. This will contribute to bridging the gap between wood fuel demand and supply, as well as complement livelihoods.