Sustainability: availability, distribution and consumption of firewood near Kidepo Valley national park

Near Kidepo Valley National Park (NP) there is much deforestation happening. Almost all the people depend on wood, for most, it is the only source of energy, building material and income. Also, the population size is increasing, and every year previously forested land is converted into agricultural fields. Through this, the accessibility to the forested areas is increasing, and it is easier to get to the untouched parts. There is a lack of knowledge, capacity and motivation of the communities to manage and protect the wood supply. These problems and causes together lead to the biggest problem in the area; the unsustainable harvest of wood. This research has the following objective: “By documenting the availability, the consumption and the distribution of the firewood species used by the communities living near Kidepo Valley NP, a household survey on firewood use will be conducted in the area. Also, the current location of woodlots will be inventoried. With this, comparable, defensible and useful data is collected that can be used to assess if the firewood consumption is sustainable and to find options to improve the current situation. ” Obtaining this information provides a better knowledge of possible solutions and problems, and options for improving the livelihoods of the communities can be identified. The used methods are; observation, key informant interviews, focus group meetings, household surveys, a forest inventory, a potential biomass productivity, and sustainability evaluation. To reach the objective the research question “Is the firewood consumption of the local communities living near Kidepo Valley National Park sustainable? ” was posed and answered. The mean annual wood biomass yield increment for Eucalyptus tereticornis is 4.945,14 kg/ha and for Acacia albida 3.220,77 kg/ha. The total area has a mean annual wood biomass yield increment of 39.561,12 kg for Eucalyptus tereticornis and Acacia albida 25.766,16 kg. In the dry season, most collect daily and walk up to five hours and five kilometres from their compound to the woodlots from which they collect. On average one bundle of firewood sustains a household for 2,3 days and weighs 27,2 kg. The mean annual consumption per household is 4.316,5 kg and per capita 501,9 kg. The entire community of the study area needs 7.528. 500 kg of firewood yearly. This research was able to conclude that the harvest is not done sustainably. The total yield is estimated at 39.561,12 kg for Eucalyptus tereticornis and at 25.766,16 kg for Acacia albida, which are both much lower than the total use of 7.528. 500 kg. The community members do not want to walk far, which leads to overharvesting in the areas closer to the compounds, but leaves options for improvement. Within a larger area, there is a possibility to sustainably harvest. Another option is to set up plots closer to the compounds with permanently managed firewood. Working in groups together has shown to reduce the firewood consumption. There is the possibility of utilising the resources within the NP. Abbreviations AWF African Wildlife Foundation Ba The annual total net biomass production bc Daily gross photosynthesis rate of standard vegetation canopies on very clear days Bm The mean annual total biomass increment bo Daily gross photosynthesis rate of standard vegetation canopies on overcast days Bw The constraint-free mean annual wood biomass yield increment CDDF Community driven development fund Ct The maintenance respiration Dbh Diameter at breast height GIS Geographical Information System Hi Harvest index LAI Leaf Area Index LEC Local Environment Committee LGMSD Local Government management service delivery LGP Length of Growing Period NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NP National Park NUSAF North Uganda Social Action Fund OXFAM Oxford Committee for Famine Relief Pm The rates of maximum photosynthesis PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal UBOS Uganda Bureau of Statistics UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority List of Figures Figure 1, woman collecting firewood . 1 Figure 2, a woman at her homestead with some of her grandchildren . 2 Figure 3, Parish Karenga . 6 Figure 4, Soil map . 6 Figure 5, Mean Annual Precipitation in Uganda. 7 Figure 6, Election day in the study area . 9 Figure 7, GIS Classified map of the study area . 22 Figure 8, Total yield and consumption compared . 25 Figure 9, Focus group meeting discussion points . 57 Figure 10, Classified map of the study area . 59 Figure 11, Transect 1 . 61 Figure 12, Transect 2 . 63 List of Tables Table 1, Population counting . 8 Table 2, Overview of the methodology . 10 Table 3, Socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents . 18 Table 4, Firewood species . 19 Table 5, Alternatives . 19 Table 6, Availability: Coping with shortage. 19 Table 7, Wet season & Dry season . 20 Table 8, Location collection . 20 Table 9, Time, Distance and Frequency . 20 Table 10, Who is responsible for the collection . 20 Table 11, Use, Buy and Collect type of fuel . 21 Table 12, Preferred quality . 21 Table 13, Frequency and Reason of fire . 21 Table 14, Consumption of firewood bundles . 21 Table 15, Weight of firewood bundles . 24 Table 16, Overview of the location of the study . 44 Table 17, Transect 1 . 60 Table 18, Transect 2 . 62