Fuel wood availability, collection and uses in Sri Lanka.

When we consider the Energy sources in Sri Lanka, we unable to forget fuel wood. There are specific characteristics are included in those trees which are using as fuel wood. They are high growth rate, strong coppicing ability, wider adaptation to different environments, nitrogen fixing ability, ease of establishment, short rotation, resistant to pest and disease, high calorific value and additional benefits - Food, Fodder, green manure, timber. Some selected tree species are; Gliricidia sepium, Acacia auriculiformis, Calliandra callothyrsus, Albizia lebek, Eucalyptus robusta, etc.
As mentioned earlier fuel wood is the main and major energy source in Sri Lanka. About 90% of the population in Sri Lanka uses the Fuel wood as an energy source. There are two main fuel wood sources. They are forest resource and the Non-forest resource. When consider the Forest resources, it includes Natural forests, forest plantations, woodlots and abandoned chena lands. Home gardens, rubber plantations, coconut plantations, other croplands, shade trees, trees planted in the road sides and wind brakes are coming under the Non-forest resource.
When consider the collection of fuel wood, women play a major role in it. In rural areas, people collect fuel wood form their home garden and the forest that located near them. But urban areas this is difference. Because they have limited area. So they purchase fuel wood from the market.
The key important sectors in use of fuel wood are House-hold sector and the Industrial sector. About 87.5% households and 49% industry use fuel wood as an energy source. The main industry that uses fuel wood as an energy source is Tea industry. About 326,000 MT of fuel wood is consumed annually. They use energy to dry the tea leaves.
The uneven distribution of fuel wood over the country has created fuel wood deficit in some localized areas and surplus in some districts. The reasons that created the shortage in some areas high transport cost, unequal access to fuel wood resources and less land availability in urban areas.
There are some legislation to control extraction and the transport of the fuel wood. Eg; Forest ordinance, Fauna and Flora protection ordinance, Felling of trees ordinance, etc.
The major advantages in the use of fuel wood are, it is free available renewable source of energy, community based fuel wood plantations also offer opportunities for self-employment and collection and transport of wood from fuel wood plantations can generate income.
But the disadvantage of this is the Fuel Wood consumption may contributes significantly to the deforestation of natural forests, with the increase of the population. So more emphasis should be given to develop the energy sources outside the Natural Forests.