National laws concerning bioenergy and wood energy are in the works

Posted on May, 07 2018

"We need a sustainable fuelwood sector for the benefit of our communities and forests.”
​The draft of a national bioenergy law and a specific decree about fuelwood energy, written by an inter-ministry committee that was supported by WWF, were finalized and shared in 2017 for feedback. The law and decree are expected to pass through Parliament in 2018.           
 
The elaboration of a national strategy for sustainable development of the wood energy sector in Madagascar, the development of measures to regulate the industry, as well as standards for the equipment used to cut the wood so that it is energy efficient, were all among in the multitudes of advances.
 
For Rina Andrianarivony, the director of the fuelwood program at WWF Madagascar, “this regulatory framework allows us, among other things, to limit the exploitation of fuelwood to an amount that is sustainable for the forest.” According to him, “the country needs this law to bring up to date its authority through the means of sanctions to stop illegal production. We need a sustainable fuelwood sector for the benefit of our communities and forests.”     

The development of this regulatory framework was based on WWF’s work in southwestern Madagascar. It is a pioneer region for many aspects of the sustainable management of the fuelwood energy sector.
 
Improved charcoal carbonization in Ambilobe
© WWF Madagascar / Talya Pillard
charcoal produced through improved carbonization technique in Ambilobe.
© WWF Madagascar / Talya Pillard