Household energy consumption and dependency on common pool forest resources : the case of Kakamega Forest, Western Kenya

Biomass is still the dominant source of energy used by most rural households in the developing world. Current use patterns have been linked to adverse effects on forest resources. Alternative fuels such as kerosene could mitigate these negative effects. In order to design policies that enhance the use of alternative fuels, a first step is to understand the household fuel use dynamics in terms of quantity, types and sources. This research looks into the consumption of different fuels by rural households living next to a common property resource forest in western Kenya. There are three focuse...