Abstract ID: 3.10768 | Accepted as Poster | Talk | TBA | TBA

The communal forestland in the Upper Blue Nile Basin is under significant pressure due to overstocking and mismanagement, leading to land degradation and reduced fuel wood resources. This overreliance on biomass energy contributes to deforestation, nutrient depletion, and decreased agricultural productivity, which poses threats to food security and economic stability. This study focused on four Agro-ecological Zones (ACZs): Kolla (Warm semi-arid), Dega (Cool sub-humid), Woyina Dega (Cool and humid), and Wourch (Very cool/alpine). The objective was to evaluate the impact of fuel biomass consumption on communal forestland, specifically analyzing patterns of demand and utilization. A total of 144 household surveys were conducted across the ACZs, with 36 households in each zone. The survey included both open stove users (77 households) and improved stove users (77 households). Fuel biomass was measured in terms of weight, length, and width using a 100kg balance and tape measure, with results categorized into bundles, baskets, and sacks. Interviews with female household members provided further insights into fuel demand and usage patterns. Results showed that the average weight of wood bundles ranged from 19.92kg to 20.17kg, while crop residue bundles weighed between 11.25kg and 12.42kg. A notable energy deficit was found in Wourch ACZ, where households consumed an average of only 3.81 bundles per week, compared to a demand of 7.92 bundles, resulting in a shortfall of 4.11 bundles. The average annual biomass consumption across all ACZs was 151.71kg per capita, with Dega ACZ peaking at 3658kg per household per year. Larger families tended to consume more biomass, but at a diminishing rate. Charcoal use was minimal in Wourch, where Eucalyptus woodlots were the primary source, while Woyina Dega experienced greater charcoal sales. Notably, dung comprised 61.9% of biomass consumption in Wourch. The findings highlight a critical mismatch between biomass resource availability and energy demand, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable management practices to restore communal forests and meet future energy requirements.