Firewood as domestic fuel in rural zones from Usme, Bogota

Abstract

This paper analyzes environmental implications of using wood as domestic fuel, using as study case the rural area of Usme, Bogotá, Colombia, from three aspects: socio-cultural, ecosystem issue and technological. Through field work, conducted surveys and information collected by direct experimentation in some kitchens in the area, were identified the impacts that the use of firewoodfor cooking has on the health, the economy and the cultural issues that define their use in this area. Also were identified and characterized the woody species most used for cooking.  The paper concludes that wood is an ecosystem service and thus is seen by the peasants, who prized it by the taste of food but they recognized that it generates health problems, especially among women and children. Was identified that many families are buying wood, either because they have no time to collect it or because of the distances they must travel along their region. The most used woods are Eucalyptus, Pine and remnant of carpentry including Formic with MDF, a material that has not been reported in Colombia, it raises the need to study the impacts of its combustion.