Review on Environmental and Social Impacts of Rural Household Traditional Biomass Energy Utilization

Abstract

Biomass is the sum total of all organic material or living matter derived from plants and animals which includes forestry and forest products industry residues. Biomass accounts for about 11% of total primary energy consumed globally, more than other renewables and nuclear power together. Approximately half of the world’s population and up to 90% of rural households in developing countries still rely on unprocessed biomass fuels in the form of wood, dung and crop residues. Therefore, this paper is sets out to review the environmental and social impacts of rural traditional biomass energy utilization and utilization trends globally, in developed and developing countries, by reviewing different written and published materials such as research findings and different reports. the findings of those reports related to the selected topic and objectives is organized from global to rural house hold traditional biomass energy utilization and environmental and social impacts to rural house hold utilization trends. The link between environmental degradation and biomass utilization is most commonly drawn through deforestation and the resulting consequences of the loss of forest cover: erosion, decreased biodiversity, desertification, decreased soil moisture and nutrient loss, and change in surface roughness and albedo, which changes the radiative balance of the affected landscape. Indoor air pollution is the biggest health risk after malnutrition, HIV/AIDS, lack of clean water and adequate sanitation in developing countries. In addition to severe public health risks, engaging in production processes limits time spent in primary and secondary school resulted for the low rates of education in charcoal-producing communities; Rural and poor women and children in many developing countries spend a significant portion of their time gathering and collecting wood fuel, crop residues and animal dung for use as cooking and space heating fuels this relates to the opportunity cost of the time spent collecting wood.

Keywords: environmental, health, impact ,social ,Traditional biomass

DOI: 10.7176/JETP/9-9-01

Publication date: December 31^st 2019