Fuelwood of Teknaf Forests: Marketing, Distribution, and Concomitant People

Abstract

On the Teknaf Peninsula, fuelwood extraction is important both as a means of livelihood for the local population and as a cause of deforestation resulting from overharvesting. This chapter focuses on describing the marketing and distribution of fuelwood and characterizing the local people involved in these activities. Fuelwood collection is prevalent in Teknaf, and a significant number of households harvest fuelwood themselves. Poverty, lack of alternative cooking fuel, and easy access to nearby forests are the main reasons for high levels of fuelwood dependence in this area. In addition to depending on fuelwood to meet demands for cooking energy, many households also rely on fuelwood collection, distribution, and marketing as a means of living. Thus, from the perspective of sustainable forest management, it is important to acquire an understanding of fuelwood-related issues that impact on forests. There are four major markets or bazars for fuelwood in Teknaf Upazila: Shamlapur Bazar, Teknaf Bazar, Nhilla Bazar, and Whykong Bazar. Fuelwood prices vary across these four bazars, being lowest in Shamlapur Bazar (6.35 BDT kg⁻¹) and highest in Nhilla Bazar (8.87 BDT kg⁻¹). Of the surveyed fuelwood vendors, 63% were male and 37% were female. Their ages ranged between 23 and 49 years at a mean of 32.6 years. The average annual fuelwood demand per person in Teknaf, which was influenced by family size, was 1168 kg. Based on their fuelwood purchasing, collecting, and selling practices, local people were categorized into three groups: purchasers, collectors, and sellers. These groups evidenced significant differences in the duration of their residence in the area and in their annual incomes.