Comparative Analysis of Wood Fuels Consumption in Households in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dragan Ratko Čomić,Nemanja Duško Anikić,Mersudin Hamid Avdibegović,Branko Dragoš Glavonjić

doi:10.15177/seefor.21-08

Dragan Ratko Čomić, Nemanja Duško Anikić + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15177/seefor.21-08

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Abstract

Analysis of the consumption of wood energy from wood-based fuels in households in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the main purpose of this paper. A survey on wood fuel consumption was first conducted using the Wood fuel Integrated Supply/Demand Overview Mapping (WISDOM) methodology of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). These results were compared to the results published by official statistics. The survey was conducted in ten cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely in 5,475 households, 2,669 urban and 2,806 other households. The results of the research showed that wood fuels were used in 516,334 or 71.59% of the total number of households. Firewood was used in 497,139 households or in 96.28% in relation to the total number of households in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that used wood fuels. The surrounding countries showed similar trends. The estimated consumption of firewood in households using the WISDOM methodology is 4.10 (when compared to the official statistical data on total felled timber in and outside public and private forests) to 4.93 times higher than the official statistical data (when compared to the official statistical data on the sale of firewood in state forests), i.e. 4.52 times higher in average. This research indicates the need to apply a new methodological approach for the collection and analysis of data on the consumption of wood fuels in households for energy purposes. Some of the shortcomings of the existing official statistics are the neglect of statistically unregistered production of firewood from private forests and from areas not categorized as forests and forest land, as well as incomplete coverage in terms of conducting a survey on consumption of all categories of wood fuels and all major consumer categories. All the aforementioned, in addition to the economic consequences, has a negative impact on the fulfilment of commitments arising from international agreements in terms of the share of energy from renewable sources and greenhouse gas emissions in total energy consumption in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, incomplete knowledge of the realistic supply and consumption of wood fuels can affect the reliability of planning documents in forestry, with many negative consequences for sustainability of a complex forest ecosystem.

Highlights

Renewable energy sources have become an inevitable topic of scientific and professional discussions regarding energy and climate change
The following scientific methods and techniques were used in this paper: content analysis and desk research, classification, analysis and synthesis, deduction, induction and comparison
Firewood and other wood fuels are an important renewable energy source and very important economic resource that enables the development of the entire economy

Summary

Introduction

Renewable energy sources have become an inevitable topic of scientific and professional discussions regarding energy and climate change. The growing impact of climate change and the need for energy security, make the transition to sustainable and efficient energy systems necessary due to their low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions without Increased use of energy from renewable sources is an important part of the package of measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and meet the commitments defined by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (UNFCCC 2016). Woody biomass is a clean, renewable energy source that could dramatically improve our environment, economy and energy security, with significantly lower GHG emissions, reduced waste and reduced dependence on fossil fuels (Gokcol et al 2009). With a share of 64.2% in primary renewable energy production, are the most important energy sources in the EU (Parobek et al 2016). In order to fully exploit the potential of biomass, it is necessary to encourage greater sustainable mobilization of wood resources together with the development of new systems of sustainable forestry (European Parliament 2018)

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