Analysis of household's energy consumption,forest degradation and plantation requirements in Eastern Tigray,Northern Ethiopia

This study examines the link between household's energy consumption, forest degradation and plantation requirements in Eastern Tigray. Data on household's fuelwood, cow‐dung, kerosene and electricity consumption in the study sites were collected from 557 urban and 114 rural households. Deforestation rate was estimated following FAO and Woody Biomass Inventory Strategy Planning Project (WBISPP's) conversion factors. The study showed that household's fuelwood consumption in urban areas (mean = 2.5 kg/day) was about 52% lower as compared to the rural villages (mean = 3.8 kg/day). The estimated area abandoned annually in the vicinity of urban areas as the result of urban fuelwood consumption varies from 217 ha around Maichew town to 12047 ha around Mekelle City. The estimated area abandoned in rural areas annually as the result of tree cutting for fuelwood also varies from 6.5 ha around Sinkata to 127 ha around Dergajen village. It is therefore recommended that an estimated annual tree plantation of area ranging from 286 ha around Maichew town to 21,684 ha around Mekelle city is required. Moreover, an estimated annual tree plantation of area ranging from 16 ha around Sinkata village to 229 ha around the Dergajen village is required taking the existing population into account.