Introduction

Forest resources are in increasing demand in most developing countries. About 90 per cent of people in these countries depend on firewood as their chief source of energy (Eckholm, 1975). Africa has the largest per person per annum consumption of firewood with an average of 1.18m3 per person in the least developed countries (UN, 1981). In most of these countries the demand for fuelwood is outstripping local supplies and whilst studies on fuelwood use have been carried out in some places, very little is known about natural forest productivity, so that it is extremely difficult to put values on supply and demand ratios.

Concern over fuelwood supplies in Kenya was voiced in the late 1960s and the 1970s, especially over the impact of diminishing forest cover on soil erosion, and in 1975 the Kenyan Government banned charcoal exports. Subsequently the Ministry of Energy in conjunction with the Beijer Institute has been trying to assess demands and supply. A number of studies in Kenya provide information on levels and patterns of firewood use and some consider alternative energy supplies, e.g. Brokensha & Riley (1978), Hosier (1981), Kamweti (1981), Shakow, Weiner & O'Keefe (1981), Hughes (1982) and most recently Barnes, Ensminger & O'Keefe (1984). On average it has been found that 1.4-2.4 m3 per person per annum of wood is used, based on household surveys (Hosier, 1981).