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Commonwealth
Forests | | |
 Introduction
“Fuelwood” refers to wood consumed for energy production purposes, whether for industrial,
commercial or domestic use. It includes wood converted to charcoal. Table 3.3 shows
fuelwood consumption in the Commonwealth, by region, while Annex 4.2 shows fuelwood
consumption by country in 2004.
Fuelwood consumption in Commonwealth countries represented 34% of total world
consumption in 2004. Some country data are missing, however, and even where there are
figures they are indicative only and in absolute terms may be quite unreliable.
Woodfuel is most important as a source of energy in Commonwealth developing countries, and
is especially important in African Commonwealth countries, where consumption is estimated
as 0.59 m3/ head.
India consumes the most woodfuel in the world (followed by China and Brazil). Within the
Commonwealth India is followed by Nigeria, Uganda, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya and
Tanzania (see Annex 4.2). But even countries with developed economies use significant
quantities of woodfuel e.g. Australia and Canada.
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