Households and tree-planting for wood energy production – Do perceptions matter?

While forests are a primary source of energy for the majority of Tanzanian households, the forest cover is rapidly declining. The Tanzanian government has introduced a tree-planting campaign strategy, aimed at reducing pressure on natural forests. However, the campaign appears not to have contributed significantly to the forest recovery rate. Thus, this study aims at examining household perceptions of tree-planting for wood energy production for both in-house uses and for sale, and identify the factors influencing household perceptions of tree-planting. We employed the multinomial logit model to analyse the factors influencing household perceptions of tree-planting for energy. Our findings indicate that respondents considered the right/freedom to harvest trees from farms and transport them to markets as the most important factor (86%), followed by lack of awareness of tree-planting programmes (72%), and the existence of fuelwood for free from natural forests (59%). The size of the farm, education, distance to forest reserves, and age of the household head are found to have significant impact on the household perceptions of tree-planting for energy. Our results further show that woodfuel harvesting and enforcement systems do not exist in nearby forests. This situation is exacerbated by the absence of a specific policy formulated to match with the daily demand of forest produce for energy and income of households near forest reserves. Thus, we suggest policy makers to target policies and actions promoting tree-planting for energy

Evaluation of the impact of fuelwood tree planting programmes in Tanzania

The rapid growth in Tree Planting for Fuelwood (TPF) program indicates the importance of taking care of the increasing demand for fuelwood globally. TPF programs in Tanzania aim to sustainably meet the rising demand for fuelwood. We evaluate the impact of TPF programs on the number of trees planted and those planted for fuelwood. Using survey data, we employ the Heckman and Propensity Score Matching techniques to estimate whether households plant trees for fuelwood and can identify tree species that would influence them to plant trees. We find positive and significant impacts of TPF programs on the number of trees planted and those planted for fuelwood. Households who participated in TPF programs have significantly more trees than their counterparts. Furthermore, we observed a positive and significant influence of TPF programs on forest policy in terms of harvesting tree products for trade, household assets, farm size, household head\u27s age, tree species and income from selling fuelwood. Although the forest policy on harvesting is associated with households\u27 participation in TPF programs, in practice there is no freedom to harvest and transport tree products obtained from farms, and both fuelwood from farms or natural forests both face restrictive transport tariffs. The results further indicate that households plant trees mainly to sell fuelwood. These results can be used by policymakers to promote tree planting on farms to obtain an income from fuelwood, treating it as a business opportunity. This paper makes a significant contribution to the literature due to the approaches used for estimation. Our results also suggest that fuelwood which receives less attention when it comes to sustainable energy production may need a regulatory authority like petroleum, natural gas and electricity which are regulated by the energy authority in Tanzania

Driving forces for households\u27 adoption of improved cooking stoves in rural Tanzania

With increasingly improved cooking stoves (ICS) that aim to reduce fuelwood consumption by forest-dependent households, more evidence of what drives households to adopt ICS is needed. Using data from a representative sample (N=271) of households in a rural part of eastern Tanzania, we estimated a mixed logit model to take into account the limitations of the standard multinomial logit model and relaxed the restrictive assumption of the conditional logit model. The experiment results show a strong correlation between payment mechanisms and adoption of ICS. We also found interesting results that households provided with just one type of ICS adopted it less (30%). On the other hand, households supplied with more than one type of ICS largely adopted it (48%). In addition, the ICS that uses both charcoal and firewood was purchased by most households (80%), which raised the total uptake of ICS to 48 %. These results also provide empirical evidence of a shift from consuming firewood for energy to charcoal in rural areas. The study suggests that any efforts to promote ICS should seriously consider offering rural households a choice of ICS as opposed to a single type, inducing suppliers of ICS to extend them on credit, and offering ICS for cash at harvest time, as their cash flow depends on seasonal income from agricultural activities

Energy Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus in East African Sub-Region: Interactive Dynamics of Human Capital

Human capital is an essential for economic growth and energy consumption. Skills, knowledge, and population health drive innovation and energy utilization. Understanding these factors is vital for addressing contemporary energy challenges and fostering economic development. Therefore, this study focuses on the East African sub-region from 2012 to 2021, exploring how education and health, as proxies for human capital, influence the energy-economic growth nexus. We employed various analytical methods, including Pooled Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects, and the Generalized Method of Moments. Our findings highlight the importance of historical context in shaping present growth policies, as there is a positive association between current and past economic performance. Additionally, higher energy prices negatively affect economic growth, underlining the need for energy price stability. Further, energy consumption appears to negatively impact economic growth. However, when considering life expectancy as a proxy for human capital, this relationship reverses. Improved life expectancy becomes pivotal in shaping energy-growth policies. Our study underscores the critical importance of enhancing life expectancy, maintaining energy price stability, and strategically investing in energy consumption for stable economic growth in East Africa

Energy Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus in East African Sub-Region: Interactive Dynamics of Human Capital

Human capital is an essential for economic growth and energy consumption. Skills, knowledge, and population health drive innovation and energy utilization. Understanding these factors is vital for addressing contemporary energy challenges and fostering economic development. Therefore, this study focuses on the East African sub-region from 2012 to 2021, exploring how education and health, as proxies for human capital, influence the energy-economic growth nexus. We employed various analytical methods, including Pooled Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects, and the Generalized Method of Moments. Our findings highlight the importance of historical context in shaping present growth policies, as there is a positive association between current and past economic performance. Additionally, higher energy prices negatively affect economic growth, underlining the need for energy price stability. Further, energy consumption appears to negatively impact economic growth. However, when considering life expectancy as a proxy for human capital, this relationship reverses. Improved life expectancy becomes pivotal in shaping energy-growth policies. Our study underscores the critical importance of enhancing life expectancy, maintaining energy price stability, and strategically investing in energy consumption for stable economic growth in East Africa

Use of an electronic Partograph: feasibility and acceptability study in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Abstract Background The ePartogram is a tablet-based application developed to improve care for women in labor by addressing documented challenges in partograph use. The application is designed to provide real-time decision support, improve data entry, and increase access to information for appropriate labor management. This study’s primary objective was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of ePartogram use in resource-constrained clinical settings. Methods The ePartogram was introduced at three facilities in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Following 3 days of training, skilled birth attendants (SBAs) were observed for 2 weeks using the ePartogram to monitor laboring women. During each observed shift, data collectors used a structured observation form to document SBA comfort, confidence, and ability to use the ePartogram. Results were analyzed by shift. Short interviews, conducted with SBAs (n = 82) after each of their first five ePartogram-monitored labors, detected differences over time. After the observation period, in-depth interviews were conducted (n = 15). A thematic analysis of interview transcripts was completed. Results Observations of 23 SBAs using the ePartogram to monitor 103 women over 84 shifts showed that the majority of SBAs (87–91%) completed each of four fundamental ePartogram tasks—registering a client, entering first and subsequent measurements, and navigating between screens—with ease or increasing ease on their first shift; this increased to 100% by the fifth shift. Nearly all SBAs (93%) demonstrated confidence and all SBAs demonstrated comfort in using the ePartogram by the fifth shift. SBAs expressed positive impressions of the ePartogram and found it efficient and easy to use, beginning with first client use. SBAs noted the helpfulness of auditory reminders (indicating that measurements were due) and visual alerts (signaling abnormal measurements). SBAs expressed confidence in their ability to interpret and act on these reminders and alerts. Conclusions It is feasible and acceptable for SBAs to use the ePartogram to support labor management and care. With structured training and support during initial use, SBAs quickly became competent and confident in ePartogram use. Qualitative findings revealed that SBAs felt the ePartogram improved timeliness of care and supported decision-making. These findings point to the ePartogram’s potential to improve quality of care in resource-constrained labor and delivery settings

Additional file 4: of Use of an electronic Partograph: feasibility and acceptability study in Zanzibar, Tanzania

In-Depth Interview Guide: Data Collection Tool 3. Bilingual primary data collection tool that trained study clinical observers used to interview skilled birth attendants at the end of the study period (DOCX 34 kb

Additional file 3: of Use of an electronic Partograph: feasibility and acceptability study in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Short Interview Guide: Data Collection Tool 2. Bilingual primary data collection tool that trained study clinical observers used to interview skilled birth attendants after they first five clinical shifts using the ePartogram (DOCX 31 kb

Additional file 2: of Use of an electronic Partograph: feasibility and acceptability study in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Observation Form: Data Collection Tool 1. Bilingual primary (Swahili/English) data collection tool that trained study clinical observers used to assess how skilled birth attendants used the ePartogram (DOCX 46 kb