Assessing Households’ Fuel Wood Sources and Tree Species Preference in Foot Hills of North-Western Himalayas

The present investigation was carried out, during the year 2019-2021 to investigate the primary sources and preferred species for fuelwood consumption among the local people of Kashmir Himalayas, India. The sample of study area was drawn by multi-stage random sampling technique. The data were collected through personal interviews of respondents using well-structured pre-tested interview schedule and non-participant observations. The study revealed that people extract enormous quantity of fuelwood mostly from forests and utilize maximum portion of extracted fuelwood for cooking and heating. Fuelwood collection was mainly done by women along with children. Winter season consumption was more than summer season consumption. Consumption of fuelwood was maximum at high elevation (>2000m) and minimum at middle and low elevation (1900-2000m and <1900m) respectively. Forests were the primary source of fuelwood resulting in huge pressure on forests thereby creating deforestation and degradation. A total of 12 species belonging to 8 families were found preferred species for fuelwood. Cedrus deodara, Salix spp., Populus spp. and Robinia pseudoacacia was the most preferred species while the Picea smithiana, Ailanthus altissima and Aesculus indica was the least preferred species.