Managed fuelwood harvesting for energy, income and conservation: An opportunity for Bhutan

Fuelwood is the primary energy source for most Bhutanese and comprises 70% of national energy consumption. Nevertheless, forest cover and fuelwood supplies have increased in recent decades. The Government of Bhutan is committed to renewable energy development, reduced fossil fuel use, and sustainable forest management, but has not developed its wood biomass potential. We suggest that promoting research and policies to increase managed fuelwood harvesting could help meet national energy independence, rural income and employment, forest management and biodiversity conservation objectives. Managed fuelwood harvesting will require site-specific assessments of resource availability, local needs and market demands, and rigorous monitoring and enforcement.