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Charcoal and Wood Biomass Utilization in Uganda: The Socioeconomic and Environmental Dynamics and Implications

Author

Listed:
  • Dastan Bamwesigye

    (Department of Forestry and Wood Products Economics and Policy, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Petr Kupec

    (Department of Landscape Management, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Georges Chekuimo

    (Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Jindrich Pavlis

    (Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Obed Asamoah

    (Department of Bioresources and Forest Science, School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, I-80101 Joensuu, Finland)

  • Samuel Antwi Darkwah

    (Department of Territorial Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Petra Hlaváčková

    (Department of Forestry and Wood Products Economics and Policy, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Charcoal and firewood fuel biomass utilization is thought to be the main cause of deforestation in Uganda. Moreover, the practice of utilizing charcoal and wood fuel in Uganda is said to impact the health of many women and children in the region. The goal of this study was to comprehensively analyze charcoal and wood fuel utilization processes in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa and the environmental and socioeconomic dynamics and implications. The study equally intended to model out some possible improvements to wood fuel use while conserving natural forests. Both qualitative and qualitative approaches were used to study the charcoal and wood fuel energy situation in Uganda. The study collected field data (sample size: 199) which was subjected to descriptive analysis. The findings show that over 90% of households in Uganda and the sub- Saharan region use firewood and charcoal wood fuel, and that this fuel use creates social and environmental hazards. Our findings are also in agreement with numerous empirical studies showing that firewood and charcoal biomass are among the major causes of deforestation in Uganda and the sub-Saharan region. Ceteris paribus, we propose the adoption of Improved Eco-Stoves (ICE), which not only enable comprehensive combustion but also lessen the quantity of firewood used by more than 60%, together with policy decisions on the government of Uganda, given peoples willingness to take on alternative energy sources such as gas and electricity.

Suggested Citation

  • Dastan Bamwesigye & Petr Kupec & Georges Chekuimo & Jindrich Pavlis & Obed Asamoah & Samuel Antwi Darkwah & Petra Hlaváčková, 2020. "Charcoal and Wood Biomass Utilization in Uganda: The Socioeconomic and Environmental Dynamics and Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8337-:d:425754
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gaurav, N. & Sivasankari, S. & Kiran, GS & Ninawe, A. & Selvin, J., 2017. "Utilization of bioresources for sustainable biofuels: A Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 205-214.
    2. Melikoglu, Mehmet, 2017. "Vision 2023: Status quo and future of biomass and coal for sustainable energy generation in Turkey," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 800-808.
    3. Lee, Lisa Yu-Ting, 2013. "Household energy mix in Uganda," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 252-261.
    4. da Silva, Patrícia Pereira & Cerqueira, Pedro André & Ogbe, Wojolomi, 2018. "Determinants of renewable energy growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from panel ARDL," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 45-54.
    5. Proskurina, Svetlana & Heinimö, Jussi & Schipfer, Fabian & Vakkilainen, Esa, 2017. "Biomass for industrial applications: The role of torrefaction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 265-274.
    6. Mirkouei, Amin & Haapala, Karl R. & Sessions, John & Murthy, Ganti S., 2017. "A review and future directions in techno-economic modeling and optimization of upstream forest biomass to bio-oil supply chains," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 15-35.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Dastan Bamwesigye, 2023. "Willingness to Pay for Alternative Energies in Uganda: Energy Needs and Policy Instruments towards Zero Deforestation 2030 and Climate Change," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Jacob Otim & Geoffrey Mutumba & Susan Watundu & Geoffrey Mubiinzi & Milly Kaddu, 2022. "The Effects of Gross Domestic Product and Energy Consumption on Carbon Dioxide Emission in Uganda (1986-2018)," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(1), pages 427-435.
    3. Arkadiusz Dyjakon & Tomasz Noszczyk & Łukasz Sobol & Dominika Misiakiewicz, 2021. "Influence of Torrefaction Temperature and Climatic Chamber Operation Time on Hydrophobic Properties of Agri-Food Biomass Investigated Using the EMC Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Dastan Bamwesigye & Raymond Chipfakacha & Evans Yeboah, 2022. "Forest and Land Rights at a Time of Deforestation and Climate Change: Land and Resource Use Crisis in Uganda," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-14, November.

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