Domestic Burning of Fuelwood in a Subsistence Tribal Economy of Lower Himalayas, India: Some Implications Based on Exploratory Analysis

Abstract

Fuelwood is important source of cooking energy in the majority of households of rural India. This paper discusses positive and negative externalities of fuelwood use including forest conservation and the health, welfare and environment for the forest-dependent tribal community of Jaunsar, based on survey data and visual observations from this remote area of the Lower Himalayas, India. Health issues due to fuelwood use are explored among tribal women using data collected from 50 randomly selected households spread in 13 randomly selected villages. The pattern of fuelwood use including hardships in terms of time spent and distance travelled for collection of cooking energy and the kitchen structures are also elaborated. The emission of four major pollution gases—CO, SO_x, NO_x and CO₂—due to fuelwood burning in kitchens is found to be beyond acceptable air standards, causing various reported health problems. Policy implications arise concerning options of local people to utilize other energy options. It is argued that the adverse impacts should be tackled by framing household energy policy in totality, not limited to concern over the energy crisis but also considering associated implications including health and drudgery.