Journal article
Can homegardens help save forests in Bangladesh? Domestic biomass fuel consumption patterns and implications for forest conservation in south-central Bangladesh
International Journal of Research on Land-use Sustainability, Vol.1(1), pp.18-25
2014
Abstract
We conducted an exploratory survey in south-central Bangladesh to realize the contribution of homegardens to household domestic biomass fuel consumption. Households were placed into categories based on their land holdings. A total of thirty households were interviewed to understand their domestic fuel consumption pattern as well as the role played by homegardens in meeting their biomass fuel requirements. This study suggested that the majority of the households in the area rely extensively on homegardens to meet their domestic fuel requirements. 58% of the households biomass fuel were drawn from homegardens, followed by neighbours (16%), markets (12%) and from public/fallow land (14%). 47 species were identified from the homegardens that were used by the respondents as fuel. Fuelwood was a major type of biomass fuel used by the households, contributing to about 56% of households total biomass fuel consumption, followed by dried leaves (21%), dung cake/sticks (14%), and crop residues (6%). As homegardens were found to provide a valuable alternative source of biomass fuel, it was concluded that a rich homegarden system near forest regions should be supported in order to reduce pressure on the country's remaining forests. Governments can facilitate this by granting marginal households access to trees in fallow lands, as well as public places including roads, railways and river banks.
Details
- Title
- Can homegardens help save forests in Bangladesh? Domestic biomass fuel consumption patterns and implications for forest conservation in south-central Bangladesh
- Authors
- Sharif A Mukul (Author) - University of QueenslandM R Tito (Author) - Centre for Research on Land-use Sustainability, BangladeshS A Munim (Author) - Khulna University, Bangladesh
- Publication details
- International Journal of Research on Land-use Sustainability, Vol.1(1), pp.18-25
- Publisher
- Centre for Research on Land-use Sustainability
- Date published
- 2014
- DOI
- 10.13140/2.1.3049.1848
- ISSN
- 2200-5978; 2200-5978
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450334902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
- Research Statement
- false
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