Author(s):

MA Islam, PA Sofi, GM Bhat, AA Wani, AA Gatoo and AR Malik

Abstract: The study investigated the household exploitation patterns of fuel wood and the role of determinant factors in fuel wood exploitation in Ganderbal district of Kashmir Himalaya. Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select sample villages (9) and households (380) for field survey. Data collection was done through structured interviews and non-participant observations. Descriptive and analytical statistics were employed to analyse the data. Results revealed that total extraction of fuel wood was 768.41 tons annum^-1 @ 0.79 kg per capita day^-1 while the consumption was 1152.60 tons annum^-1 @ 1.18 kg per capita day^-1. Thus, there is a shortage of 384.19 tons of fuel wood annum^-1 @ 0.39 kg per capita day^-1. The people are resource-poor characterized by low socioeconomic conditions and inadequate biophysical assets. Correlation analysis (r = - 0.601 to 0.670; p = 0.000) indicated that the determinant factors exerted a strong influence on appropriating household fuel wood exploitation. Regression analysis (‘t’ value = 2.215 to 8.525) revealed that household size, livestock holding, primary occupation, gross annual income, proximity to the forest, forest resource possession and access to alternative energy sources are the key determinants influencing significantly the fuel wood exploitation and the R² (0.778) indicated that 77.80% of the variation in the fuel wood exploitation was explained by the determinant factors. To tackle the overwhelming household fuel wood dependency on forests, policy must be directed towards the diversification of alternative energy sources, promotion of low-cost technologies, afforestation programmes and substitution fuel wood.

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