Fuel for the clean energy debate : a study of fuelwood collection and purchase in rural India

Abstract

In many parts of rural India the use of wood for fuel is the cause of significant environmental and health problems. Efforts to help people switch to cleaner fuels have not been effective and fuelwood use remains high in the countryside. To help find a solution to this challenge, a new SANDEE study from the districts of Orissa has looked at the factors that influence fuelwood use amongst village people. It finds that people are more likely to switch from collecting to purchasing fuel wood as they become better off. However, it also finds that when households reach a certain level of affluence they may switch back to using local labour to collect fuelwood for them.