The study involved extensive original data collection, in addition to a review of relevant secondary data, from numerous sources and research activities. The original data was gained from two major surveys:
- a five-village rural survey on domestic fuel consumption rates, methods of wood collection and many other sociological issues related to the study;- a biomass survey, designed to derive biomass removal rates, annual increments and the extent of the biomass resource on a regional basis; survey ground data was used to calibrate Landsat images for this purpose.
Using the survey results, rural energy demand forecasts were gained from a computerised rural energy demand model specially designed for the study.
The survey data also provided the basis for evaluating the social and institutional feasibility of the development options.
