Firewood development in Labuhan Badas: Consumption and determinants

Abstract

Little consideration on the relationship between economy and environmental dimensions of firewood causes farmer's reluctance in planting trees for fuel. This tendency potentially threatens sustainable farmer incomes. This paper investigates supply and demand of firewood, stakeholders involved and determinants of firewood development. The research was conducted on April and October 2016 at Boak community (Labuhan Badas village) who utilize firewood for domestic use and for income generation. A total of 25 households and 8 key persons were selected using purposive sampling. Meanwhile, the numbers of 6 brick/roof tile manufacturing and 3 middlemen were selected using snowball sampling. Data were collected by interview and analysed descriptively. Currently, there are 12,976 m3 firewood deficits for the manufactures of charcoal; limestone; and brick-roof tiles. Unfortunately, none of community intends to replant trees in the forest to suffice firewood needs. The determinants of firewood development consist of three factors namely: the land is abundantly available; the species of firewood has been well recognised; and technology to develop has been mastered. These determinants could be placed as entry points for government to overcome the problem about firewood shortage as well as to increase the farmer income through facilitating the firewood development until farmers get benefit. The government also may subsidize farmers who grow trees for fuel with the efficient stove or other rewards such as reduction on the land and building tax.