Fuelwood in the Forest Garden:

Communities have long relied on forests and other natural ecosystems to provide them with the materials needed for cooking and heating their homes. As population densities increase, so does the need for fuelwood, putting more pressure on and contributing to deforestation and land degradation.  

To take pressure off these ecosystems and save time harvesting fuelwood, Forest Gardeners plant fast-growing trees that produce an abundance of quality, combustible wood. Examples of popular fuelwood species used in Forest Gardens include Sesbiania sesban, a short-lived tree that produces high amounts of woody biomass and burns hot with little smoke. Gliricidia sepium is a fuelwood tree that burns slowly, ideal for both cooking and heating. 

Through smart selection of fuelwood trees for their Forest Gardens, farmers can harness multiple benefits at the same time. Fuelwood species can be planted as live fences, windbreaks, and alleys that can be pruned for fuelwood as part of the normal management process. They can also be planted in woodlots if needed in larger amounts

Read more about useful fuelwood species in Chapter 9 of the Technical Manual.