Fuelwood consumption of dhabas (temporary hotels) along an altitudinal gradient in a pilgrim and tourist affected protected area of western Himalaya

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe present study was carried out in a remote area of the Indian Himalayas to assess the biomass use patterns of dhabas (temporary hotels) along an altitudinal gradient in a pilgrimage and tourism affected protected area. The dhaba owners extensively collect fuelwood for various purposes such as cooking, boiling water, and space heating. The study examined factors affecting and resulting from fuelwood usage and collection—including preferred species, gathering patterns, emissions of green house gases due to combustion, and ecological parameters such as density and total basal cover. Open- and close-ended questionnaires were used for interviews with the study subjects. Firewood was reported as the only available energy source in the area. The average fuelwood consumption at three altitudinal sites was 19 kg dhaba−1 day−1 at Site I (1,500–2,000 m asl), 26.62 kg dhaba−1 day−1 at Site II (2,000–2,500 m asl), and 16.74 kg dhaba−1 day−1 at Site III (2,500–3,600 m asl). The five most preferred species for firewood reported by the respondents were: Alnus nepalensis, Lyonia ovalifolia, Quercus floribunda, Pinus roxburghii, and Rhododendron arboreum. The present findings could be used as a baseline for developing various conservation and sustainability measures for protected areas influenced by human populations.