University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2011 FUELWOOD CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION IN ALPINE BHUTAN: A CASE STUDY OF RESOURCE USE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT IN WANGCHUK CENTENNIAL PARK Wangchuk Sangay The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Sangay, Wangchuk, "FUELWOOD CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION IN ALPINE BHUTAN: A CASE STUDY OF RESOURCE USE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT IN WANGCHUK CENTENNIAL PARK" (2011). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 474. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/474 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FUELWOOD CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION IN ALPINE BHUTAN A Case Study of Resource Use and Implications for Conservation and Management in Wangchuck Centennial Park By SANGAY WANGCHUK Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India (2002-2006) Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Resource Conservation, International Conservation and Development The University of Montana Missoula, Montana Spring 2011 Approved by: J.B. Alexander Ross, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the Graduate School Professor Stephen F. Siebert, Chair Department of Forest Management Professor Jill M. Belsky Department of Society and Conservation Assistant Professor David Affleck Department of Forest Management Wangchuk, Sangay, M.Sc. Spring 2011 Resource Conservation Fuelwood Consumption and Production in Alpine Bhutan: A Case Study of Resource Use and Implications for Conservation and Management in Wangchuck Centennial Park Chairperson: Professor Stephen F. Siebert Wood has been used since prehistoric times for cooking and heating, and remains the primary energy source for billions of people throughout the world. In Bhutan, fuelwood accounts for 78% of total energy consumption and is the primary energy source for most rural and urban residents. Despite the importance of fuelwood in Bhutan, little is known about household fuelwood consumption, available biomass, or growth and yield. This study documents fuelwood consumption, standing biomass, and annual growth and yield through a case study in Nasiphel and adjacent hamlets (elevation 2800 m), and a high elevation site (Chajeyna, 4800 m) where Nasiphel residents and others rely on fuelwood for one month each year while gathering a medicinal fungus (Cordyceps). Total annual fuelwood consumption was estimated using the weight-survey method and recording all fuelwood used by 15 households for 15 consecutive days in August and January in Nasiphel and by 12 groups of Cordyceps collectors for ten consecutive days in June in Chajeyna. Total standing biomass was estimated by mapping and calculating the area from which fuelwood was harvested and measuring the height and diameter of trees in randomly established transects and sample plots. Annual biomass accumulation was estimated by measuring growth rings using Measure J2X software in a random sample of fuelwood species in both sites. Residents of Nasiphel burn exclusively blue pine (Pinus wallichiana) and consumed approximately 661 ± 53 metric tons in 2010. Blue pine biomass totaled 901 ± 267 metric tons with an annual biomass increment of approximately 380 metric tons in the designated harvest areas. Harvesting exceeds accumulation rates in the harvest areas in Nasiphel, but forests resources are abundant and expanding in the area. In Chajeyna, Rhododendron (Rhododendron aeruginosum) is the only fuelwood species available and approximately 9.2 ± 1.2 metric tons was consumed in 2010. Rhododendron biomass totaled approximately 111 metric tons with an annual biomass increment of just 809 kg. Based on current consumption rates, all Rhododendrons in Chajeyna will likely be consumed in less than 13 years. I recommend that the Government of Bhutan increase the area from which fuelwood can be harvested in Nasiphel to meet household energy needs on a sustainable basis. In Chajeyna, I recommend that fuelwood harvesting be strictly regulated or eliminated to sustain Rhododendron stands at this high elevation site through reducing the number of Cordyceps collecting permits issued and/or eliminating fuelwood use by requiring the use of alternative fuels (e.g., kerosene). ii Acknowledgement First and foremost, I am highly thankful to Professor Stephen F. Siebert and Professor Jill M. Belsky for having selected me for this study and constantly taking care of my needs and comforts in Missoula. I would also like to thank the Royal Government of Bhutan for approving my study with pay. I am also extremely grateful to MacArthur Foundation for funding this study, which otherwise would not have been possible. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Mrs. Jill Kinyon and her husband Darwin for helping me to settle down after my arrival in the University by providing all the essentials. The study would not have been possible without the constant guidance that I received from my committee (Dr. Stephen F. Siebert, Dr. Jill M. Belsky and Dr. David Affleck). I am very much grateful to Professor Stephen F. Siebert for always standing solidly behind me and helping me during my entire course of the study. I am highly indebted to Dr. David Affleck for his help during the data analysis processes and, I would also like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Dechen Dorji and Mrs. Sangay Dema, former Director of UWICE and Mr. Nawang Norbu, current Director, UWICE, for their continuous guidance and encouraging words I received before and throughout my studies. I am also very much grateful to Mr. Sherub of UWICE for helping me with GIS activities and for his guidance. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Dambar Singh Rai, and Mr. Tenzin of Wangchuck Centennial Park for helping me to identify my study sites and allowing me to conduct research in the park. I should also be thankful to Mr. Karma Dukpa (Director, Department of Forest and Park Services) and Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen (Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests) and Dr. Tashi Samdrup (Director of CORRB) for approving my study. The study would not have been completed without the immense help of Mr. Rinchen Singye and Mr. Jigme Wangchuk of UWICE during data collection processes. I also like to thank Mr. Kuenga, Mr. Chogyal, Mr. Jampel and Mr. Nawang (all from WCP) for helping me in surveys while I was in Nasiphel. I would also like to thank Ap Tashi and family in Nasiphel for being kind enough to provide me a room to stay during the course of my study. I am also grateful to all the staff of UWICE for their valuable comments and iii suggestions and to the management of UWICE for providing me with vehicle during the course of my study. I am also very much grateful to the Renewable Natural Resources Research Center (RNR-RC), Jakar for letting me work in their lab during the ring analysis. I am highly indebted to Mr. Dorji Dukpa and Mr. Tshewang Dorji of RNR-RC for lending me their help during the ring analysis activities. I also like to thank Mrs. Rebecca Pradhan, RSPN for identifying the Rhododendron species. I am also thankful to all my classmates of RSCN-571 for their valuable comments and suggestions during the presentation of my research proposal. I would like to thank my wife Choden Lhamo for being with me during my entire course of study lending me support whenever needed and my beautiful eight years old daughter Sonam Yangden for bearing her parents separation for one long year. I am also highly indebted to my parents and wife’s parents for taking care of our daughter and offering prayers without fail for my studies and wellbeing. Lastly I offer my regards and prayers to all those who supported me in any respect during the completion of this study. iv Table of Contents ABSTRACT ............................................................................................ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................................. III LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................... 3 LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................................... 4 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................... 5 WORD MEANING ..................................................................................................................................... 6 REFLECTION ON THE RESEARCH ............................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 1; LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................................ 8 1.1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................