Wood energy and preservation of woodlands in semi-arid developing countries: The case of Dodoma region, Tanzania

Abstract

At present little land and labor resources are expended on energy production, but the woodlands in Dodoma are disappearing, causing villagers to save time by switching from fuelwood collected on foot to charcoal shipped in by truck. Results of a linear program show that if the costs of growing the wood for charcoal are counted the switch to charcoal saves time only in areas where population is relatively dense and natural woodland remote. Woodland preservation in Dodoma will require more plantations, increased plantation productivity, improved efficiency of charcoal kilns or stoves, and ultimately a switch to some other fuel than wood.