HOUSEHOLDS BIOGAS TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IMPACT ON FOREST CONSERVATION IN NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Implementing the domestic biogas technology program is vital for developing countries like Ethiopia to provide decentralized modern renewable energy. This study examines the role of biogas technology adoption impacts household fuelwood consumption reduction and forest conservation in Motta district Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 198 households (65 adapters and 133 non-adopters) were involved in the household survey. The binary logistic regression model was used to determine factors affecting the household decision on biogas adoption. The Kitchen performance test method was employed to quantify the mean daily fuelwood consumption on 25 households from each adoption category. The result revealed that the annual fuel-wood and charcoal saving potential fully functional biogas plant was 1306.70kg/hh/yr., 400.05kg/hh/yr. of dried biomass wood, respectively. Accordingly, if all 100 biogas plants in the study area can be fully functional, the total fuelwood and charcoal saving potential were estimated at 170.72ton/yr. of dried biomass in the study area is equivalent to reducing the depletion of 0.51hectare/yr-forest land in the district. Sex, Farmland size, Total annual income, Number of livestock, and Awareness were the most important factors that affect a household's decision to adopt biogas technology. For better scaling-up and sustainable domestication of biogas technology for reducing deforestation and wood extraction, experts in the biogas energy sector should work in association with experts of agriculture, forest sector, the environment, and climate change.