[Gasification] Can homegardens help save forests in Bangladesh?

[Jeff Davis]

*Can homegardens help save forests in Bangladesh?*
/Domestic biomass fuel consumption patterns and implications for forest 
conservation in south-central Bangladesh /


http://tinyurl.com/p6cvqxm

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.




Jeff
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