ENV6: Rate of deforestation attributed to energy use Brief Definition Annual change in the amount of natural and
plantation forest area tracked over time that could
be attributed to using wood as a fuel for energy
purposes
Units Percentage
Alternative Definitions Ratio of fuelwood deforestation rate to total
deforestation rate
Agenda 21 Chapter 11: Combating deforestation
POLICY RELEVANCE (a) Purpose: The purpose of this indicator is to show a change in the area covered by
the forest formations of a country over time that could be attributed to using wood for
energy needs.
(b) Relevance to Sustainable Development: Forests serve multiple ecological,
socio-economic and cultural roles in many countries. They are among the most
diverse and widespread ecosystems of the world. Forests provide many significant
resources, including wood products, recreational opportunities and habitat for
wildlife, and serve many important functions, such as filtering pollutants and playing
a role in water and soil conservation. They support employment and traditional uses,
as well as biodiversity. There is general concern about the human impact on forest
health and the natural processes of forest growth and regeneration. It is estimated that,
between 1980 and 1990, the global forest area declined by 180 million hectares (ha),
with a further decline of 56 million ha from 1990 to 1995. Combating deforestation to
maintain the production of fuelwood and other non-fuel wood and to preserve soils,
water, air and biological diversity is explicitly considered in Agenda 21.
Deforestation, in particular due to fuelwood harvest, is seen as a major issue in
developing countries. The issue is of less concern in developed countries, where the
area volume of fuelwood consumption is negligible.
The availability of accurate data on a country’s forest area, which is a basic indication
of its forest resources, is an essential requirement for forest policymaking and
planning within the context of sustainable development.
