regional wood energy development programme in asia ... - CES (IISc)

(f) People involved in such woodfuel/tree growing activities should be free to choose the
species, manage the trees and plantations, harvest and/or dispose of the wood products
without any restrictions.
(g) The Forest Department should, with a view to consolidating effective and systematic natural
forest management, revise the expired working plan of Meiktila while the local supply
working circle should also be reviewed. A re-assessment of the local supply reserves
should be made by ground checking. The unproductive areas should be classified and be
rehabilitated through artificial or controlled natural regeneration systems. Natural
regeneration is preferable in areas where the performance of regrowth is satisfactory. For
artificial regeneration, indigenous or fast growing exotic species with vigorous coppicing
should be selected.
(h) Hmyin, a dry-soil type bamboo, is an important source of energy for cottage industries, in
particular for the evaporated milk producers. The use of bamboo lessens to a certain extent
the pressure on fuelwood use. As the rotation of bamboo is much shorter than tree species,
and because only dried culms are collected, the management of bamboo is far easier.
Providing a rest period of three years in a harvested-over area should be sufficient for its
recuperation.
(i) In order to curb the demand for woodfuels, the introduction and dissemination of fuel
efficient stoves, ovens, kilns, dryers and other more efficient energy conversion devices
should be encouraged, promoted and strengthened. If needed, different models both for
domestic and industrial use should be developed to suit different strata of end-users.
(j) There is only a limited amount of information and studies available with regard to woodfuel
supply and demand for a particular area, a particular town or particular industries, etc. The
lack of such critical information has made the development planning difficult. Therefore,
more detailed studies of fuel deficit States and Divisions should be undertaken as soon as
possible in order to develop a suitable approach to determine the fuelwood situation of the
whole country.
(k) To promote energy conservation ethics and efficient use of scarcer woodfuel resources,
there should be an action-oriented extension service in the Forest Department in
collaboration with concerned departments to promote and coordinate the necessary work
as well as to develop better linkages among different agencies concerned with the land
based resource management and rural development.
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