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Criteria and indicators for sustainable woodfuels

Year of publication 2010

Author Office of Assistant Director-General (Forestry Department)

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 9251066034

Series title FAO Forestry Paper

Series number 02586150

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Reliable, secure and safe energy sources are fundamental to the well-being and social and economic development of all societies. With growing pressure on energy resources and a heavy dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels, the world faces two key energy-related problems: the lack of a secure and affordable supply, and the threat of overconsumption leading to irreversible environmental damage. As part of the solution to these problems, many countries are looking increasingly to their biomass-en ergy resources. This publication focuses on one major source of biomass energy – woodfuels. In many developing countries, woodfuels are still commonly used for household cooking and heating and are also important for local processing industries. In many developed countries, wood-processing industries often use their wood by-products for energy production. In some countries, notably the Nordic countries, forest residues are increasingly used for industrial-scale electricity generation and heating . Several developing countries have enormous potential to produce energy from forests and trees outside forests, for both domestic use and export. However this potential is not often properly reflected in national energy-development strategies. This publication sets out principles, criteria and indicators to guide the sustainable use of woodfuel resources and the sustainable production of charcoal. It is designed to help policy- and decision-makers in forestry, energy and environment agencies, n on-governmental and other civil-society organizations and the private sector ensure that the woodfuel sector reaches its full potential as an agent of sustainable development.

Language English

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