Assessment of Fuelwood Consumption Pattern in Indigenous Communities in North-East India: A Case Study in Ukhrul District, Manipur, India

One of the major sources of energy especially in rural sector is the fuelwood and it remains as the first choice of energy source. The North-east states of India have high indigenous population and depend upon the natural resources for their livelihood. A study was carried out in Ukhrul District, Manipur to understand the present fuelwood consumption pattern, the common species collected, and its impact on the forest land and conservation measure based on traditional knowledge. The primary data was collected using a detailed field survey, personal observations and questionnaire-based interviews and discussions with knowledgeable villagers were carried out. Annual fuelwood consumption was approximately 3000 Kg per household. The most commonly collected fuelwood species were Quercus serratus, Lithocarpus fenestratus, L. dealbatus and Q. cerris. The traditional village institutions have withstood numerous challenges and have proved crucial to the preservation of the forests. The community requires assistance and incentives from the government in order to create a mutually beneficial situation for conservation as well as the improvement of the local community living standard.