Woodfuel (fuelwood and charcoal) consumption in Myanmar was estimated to be 28 million air dry ton (adt) or 35.9 million m3 in 1990, which compared to an estimated 23 million adt (29.5 million m3) consumption in 1980 represents 2% average annual increase. About 75% of woodfuels consumption is in rural households where fuelwood is collected and burnt on a subsistence basis. Charcoal, making up 4-5% of the total woodfuel consumption is used mostly in Yangon. Most of the supply is obtained from fuelwood plantations, degraded forests, and also from taungya effected and closed forests. From 1990 estimate, the total sustainable yield that could be harvested annually has been evaluated at about 21.46 million adt (27.6 million m3). The projected sustainable annual yields for the years 2000 and 2005 are 20.04 million adt (25.8 mill m3) and 18.72 million adt (24.1 mill m3) respectively.
Woodfuel consumption and sustainable supply from 1990 through 2000 to 2005 are compared as follows.
(in million)
Year |
Sustainable yield woodfuel |
Consumption |
Surplus/Deficit |
1990 |
21.46 adt (27.59 m3) |
28.16 adt (36.20 m3) |
- 6.7 adt (8.61 m3) |
2000 |
20.04 adt (25.76 m3) |
32.45 adt (41.72 m3) |
-12.41 adt(15.96 m3) |
2005 |
18.72 adt (24.07 m3) |
35.67 adt (45.86 m3) |
-16.95 adt(21.79 m3) |
Source - World bank document for UNDP, Report No.10394-BA.
As against the recorded production, the consumption has been estimated to be 41.72 million m3 by the year 2000 and 45.85 million m3 by the year 2005. Fuelwood deficit now effects 7 out of 14 States/Divisions and is estimated to increase to 9 deficit States/Divisions by the year 2005. To ease the acute fuelwood problem the 3 obligations are; to activate a more determined fuelwood planting programme, to implement programmes for the use of woodfuel saving device and to substitute wood based fuel with alternate energy. About 101,460 ha have been planted with fuelwood up to 1992. However, fuelwood plantation programme of 10,000 ha per year is far too inadequate to meet present and future demand and planting programmes of some 93,000 ha/year in upper Myanmar and around 83,000 ha/year for lower Myanmar will be required to bridge the supply and demand gap of fuelwood. This necessitates the motivation and expansion of participatory forestry/agroforestry on degraded lands, village tracts and farm lands. The Ministry of Forestry initially launched a 3-year Greening Project for the Nine Critical Districts of the Arid Zone in 1994. The project covers 42 townships in nine districts totalling 20,760 ha in area. The project aims at solving the fuelwood problem, restoring ecosystem and ensuring environmental security, thereby improving the standard of living of the rural poor, and making the Arid Zone green and pleasant. In the fiscal year 1994-95 and 1995-96, the project has succeeded in establishing 9,438 ha of fuelwood plantations, actively involving local communities and non-government organizations.
To implement programs for use of woodfuel saving device the extension arms of some projects have introduced the use of new fuel-efficient stoves. Rural communities are also encouraged to overcome fuelwood scarcity through the use of crop residues. To substitute wood based fuel with alternate energy, the Government has formed a Committee for Innovation and Distribution of Firewood Substitute Fuel for Arid Regions and measures have been taken to that effect. There are three ongoing projects which also have the strategic programme of fuelwood substitution with briquettes made of agri-waste and heat saving stoves. So far coal and sawdust/rice husk briquettes are being produced and distributed in Yangon and some districts.
