Settlements’ firewood consumption estimation based on geospatial modelling: a case study of the Republic of Georgia

Abstract

ABSTRACTMany research methodologies aim to calculate forest resource and firewood consumption on the village, community, municipality, regional, and national levels. This parameter is vital for decision-makers in a number of areas, such as environmental protection, forest governance, energy, the economy, and disaster risk management and prevention. As a number of studies show, there is no alternative to heating with firewood in Georgian villages. This model uses a dataset for Georgia to facilitate the calculation of the aforementioned parameter for populated areas via PostGIS spatial analysis and statistical analysis of existing data. Elevations, degree-days, and firewood consumption rates were measured per capita and household for populated areas. The model determines the volume of firewood required for heating in rural settlements. The demand for firewood in each village can be calculated by the number of inhabitants. Settlements represent minor administrative units according to which firewood consumption on any administrative level, whether it be on regional or municipal levels, is defined.