Those interested in woodfuel flows may recall the name Cebu. It was on this island in the Philippines that an important case study was undertaken in the early nineties whose results showed that woodfuel extraction and use took place on a far more sustainable basis than was generally assumed. The case study also convincingly documented that commercial markets for woodfuels can provide incentives for landowners and smallholders to undertake more intensive tree planting and management practices. The study was published by RWEDP in 1993 (FD No. 42).
Understanding woodfuel flows, encompassing its supply, distribution and use, has major policy implications. Therefore, it is no co-incidence that a few years after the aforementioned research, Cebu City was the venue for a wood energy policy seminar/workshop organised by the University of San Carlos' Affiliated Non-Conventional Energy Center. The participants represented a broad spectrum of delegates from the energy, forestry, agriculture and environment sectors, as well as politicians, scholars, and observers from neighbouring countries.
The well-coordinated seminar/workshop comprehensively covered wood energy planning, policies and strategies. The discussions lead to substantial recommendations for wood energy development which build on the increasing knowledge and understanding gained over the years. The present report gives an account of this seminar/workshop and it is hoped that the publication will stimulate the implementation of the wood energy policies and strategies which were articulated at that meeting.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the support of the Department of Energy and the Forest Management Bureau of the Government of the Philippines. Thanks are also due to the resource persons for their contributions and to Mr. Conrado Heruela, wood energy planning specialist of RWEDP, for his advice.
Dr. W.S. Hulscher
Chief Technical Adviser
FAO/RWEDP
