Can wood quality justify local preferences for firewood in an area of caatinga (dryland) vegetation?

• Published in: Biomass & bioenergy Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 503 - 509
• Main Authors: Ramos, Marcelo Alves, Medeiros, Patrícia Muniz de, Almeida, Alyson Luiz Santos de, Feliciano, Ana Lícia Patriota, Albuquerque, Ulysses Paulino de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biomass; Brazil; Dry forests; Economic data; Energy; Energy economics; Energy policy; Ethnobotany; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel Value Index (FVI); Fuelwood; General, economic and professional studies; Natural energy; Rural communities; Water content; South America; Brazil; America; Ethnobotany; Water content; Rural communities; Brazil; Fuel Value Index (FVI); Dry forests; Fuelwood; Wood; Biomass; Density; Physical properties; Consumer behavior; Calorific value; Preference; Quality; Humidity; Residential sector
• ISSN: 0961-9534; 1873-2909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.11.010

Studies have been undertaken in many parts of the world to evaluate the qualities of fuelwood, but rarely is this information associated with an examination of the preferences of the local populations. As such, the present study sought to address the question of whether local preferences for fuelwoods can be explained by the physical characteristics of the wood itself. To that end, the residents of 102 domiciles in a rural community in NE Brazil were interviewed and a list was compiled of all the plants used and preferred for domestic use. These woods were subsequently analyzed to determine their density, water content, and Fuel Value Index (FVI). Although a total of 67 species were identified by the residents, only 14 were described as being preferred—due to their great number of desirable attributes for cooking. The density, humidity, and FVI of 38 species used and/or preferred were determined. A significant relationship ( p<0.05) was noted between plants with the highest FVIs and the most preferred fuelwood plants in the region, indicating that local preference could be explained by the physical properties that were examined.