Estimativa do consumo residencial de lenha num distrito do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

This study analyzes the amount of firewood consumed for cooking and residential heating and proposes alternatives for local supply through different forest production systems, called "Social Forests". The work was carried out in the district of Fonseca, municipality of Alvinópolis, state of Minas Gerais, in the Rio Doce microregion, between 20°09' 35" S and 43°17' 55" W. The research area was divided, using the concept of sample homogeneity, into urban and rural sectors, and data on daily firewood consumption were obtained by weighing, admitting a sampling error of 10%, with a total of 107 households surveyed. It was found that firewood collection in the district is a very intensive practice and constitutes an activity in which all able-bodied family members participate. In the urban sector, it was observed that 15% of consumers acquired firewood through direct marketing, with an estimated average price of approximately US$0.25 per adult bundle (approximate weight of 30 kg for dry firewood), while in the rural sector, there are no points of sale. Specific firewood consumption in the Fonseca district was estimated at 22.19 kg/household/day, with 25.53 kg/household/day in the rural sector and 18.63 kg/household/day in the urban sector. Total consumption was estimated at 16,477 st/year, equivalent to 1,957.97 TOE (tons of oil equivalent), which is very significant in terms of impacts on the conservation of local forest biomass. Total firewood consumption was distributed as follows: 9,907 st/year for the rural sector and 6,570 st/year for the urban sector. In view of the estimated consumption results, it was inferred that there is a need to develop small-scale community forestry programs under specific management plans for the sustainable production of firewood in these communities.