Introduction

Tree provides firewood or wood like material (twigs etc) that is gathered and used as fuel or energy wood for cooking food and for heating purposes. Generally, energy producing firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form. It is a renewable resource. However, demand for this fuel or energy can outpace its ability to regenerate on local and regional level. For example in some places in the world and through history, the demand has led to desertification. Good forestry practices and improvements in devices that use firewood can improve the local wood supplies. For this, high density plantation needs to be established.

For firewood production, trees should be planted closely keeping 2000-2500 trees /ha by maintaining 2 x 2 meters or 2.5 x 2 meters row to row and plant to plant distance respectively. To manage such plantation, pruning and thinning should be done from which fire wood can be obtained regularly. Species used in firewood production in Nepal are:

• Terai and inner Terai– Masala/Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp), Bakaino (Melia azedarach), Siris (Albizia spp) etc.
• Mid-hills- Bakaino (Melia azedarach), Uttis (Alnus nepalensis), Pine species, Chilaune (Schima wallichii), Katus (Castanopsis spp) etc
• Mountains- Populus species, pine species, and Khasru (Quercus semecarpifolia) firewood left after eating leaves by livestock.

Branches of Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo) and Ipil-Ipil (Leucaena species) are also used as firewood in Nepal.

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) locally called sajiwan is only potential biodiesel production plants of Nepal. It is found in semi-domesticated from in all tropical and sub tropical district of Nepal but it has not been exploited yet for commercial use. However it has commercially been utilized as a source of biodiesel in almost all warmer part of the world. In this context, extensive use of Jatropha plantation and utilization of barren and degraded land of rural area in Nepal would be an important opportunity to promote rural livelihood and clean energy, thereby contributing the sustainable development goals in the long run. If Jatropha would be cultivated in mass scale in the rural area of Nepal, it may helps for sustainable supply of bio-diesel that will replace the existing use of petro diesel to some extent.