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

development of fuel saving stoves is still in the initial stages. Kerosene is scarce and too expensive
to be used for cooking and other purposes, except for lighting.
Recommendations: The results of the study on woodfuel production in the fuel supply area
and end-use in the consumption centres call for a series of recommendations for forestry and
energy development programmes in the dry zone of central Myanmar. These can be summarised
as follows:
- The fuelwood deficit problem in the central arid zone as well as in other similar areas should
be tackled at the national level as it is the root of all economic, social and environmental ills
of the country. As such, multi-organizational efforts are called for to solve energy and
related problems. The responsibility should not be borne by the Forest Department alone
although a major part on the supply side will rest on the Department.
- People would willingly participate in the Department's development activities provided they
have sufficient incentives. The woodfuel deficit problem in the dry zone can be solved only
if there is a definite fuelwood policy in line with privatization. Based on this concept, the
Forest Department should encourage the formation of village, community and/or private
groups to manage, control and utilize fuelwood from the reserved forests, unclassified
forests or lease the lands to these communities for tree/fuelwood production purposes. The
Forest Department should help the local group forming such local bodies, trainings and
providing them with material support as well as the transfer of relevant technologies for
woodlot establishments and managements. The private and community groups should have
the right to dispose of the products from their tree growing activities, with no legal
restrictions.
- The Forest Department should revise the expired working plan of Meiktila and revive the
existing local supply working circle. At the same time, depleted areas should be
rehabilitated, preferably by natural means with effective control and maintenance. For the
management of bamboo stocks, the provision of an alternate rest period of 3 years in a
specific area or reserve should be sufficient as only dry bamboo culms are extracted for
industrial use.
- In order to educate the urban as well as rural population with regard to conservation ethics
and the adoption of fuel saving stoves, an action-oriented extension service should be
organised by the Forest Department and other departments concerned with energy,
agriculture and rural development. This service strategy should also be used to promote
a better coordination and understanding among different government organizations as well
as the people.
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