Kamal Rijal

5.1. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOREST SECTOR IN MOUNTAIN AREAS

In recent years, planning in the forestry sector has evolved to focus on how forest products (primarily, fuelwood and timber) can be utilized on a sustainable basis to contribute to sustainable development (FAO, 1993; Shen and Contreras-Hermosilla 1995). This is even more important in mountain areas, which are environmentally more vulnerable than the plains due to their fragile ecosystems. In addition, con­tradictions may exist between long-term development goals and the short-term necessities of the mountain population. Resolving this contradiction is a prerequisite for establishing the long-term vision needed to achieve changes in mountain energy systems along a sustainable path.

Sustainable development in the mountain areas depends on the capacity to develop woodfuel-based energy aiming at fulfilling the energy needs of mountain communities and increasing productivity, without jeopardizing livelihoods or depleting the forest resource base. An appropriate approach to accomplish this is to value the environment and treat it as a central feature in wood-based energy planning in the mountain areas. The choice between various forms of energy needs to be assessed, and the value of environmental stocks and flows must be accounted for, along with the role of forests as carbon sinks (Durning, 1993). The quality of life and environmental balance should be considered as important as economic growth.

In terms of fuelwood, the main concern is with resources that can be exploited for short-term benefits, which ultimately may destroy the resource base. To prioritize long-term benefits is difficult as most mountain communities lack other fuel choices. Commercial fuels and renewable energy technologies are usually not available in these areas and are not within easy reach. Even if availability of other options increases, there is still the issue of low affordability among the communities. It is therefore important to devise a mechanism of control over resources and decisions on development paths which is kept in the hands of the mountain communities themselves. The communities need to be given the power to influence the decisions

61 Bioenergy — Realizing the Potential

© 2005 Dr Semida Silveira Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

that affect their lives, which can be better achieved if they have greater control over the physical, financial and environmental capital on which they depend.

This chapter proposes to identify technological, policy and institutional options that may be feasible for the sustainable supply of fuelwood in the mountain communities of Hindu Kush, the Himalayan region of Asia[7], here called HKH region. We start by examining the management and planning efforts within the forestry sector in the region, how energy services are being met through the use of fuelwood and what the long-term implications of present practices are. We also look at lessons learnt from the implementation of forestry programs in mountain areas and propose a framework for the sustainable management of fuelwood to the benefit of mountain communities.