Evaluating the Sustainability of Fuelwood Supply Chains in Katsina State, North West Nigeria

Fuelwood constitutes the dominant cooking fuel in Katsina State, North West Nigeria, yet the sustainability of fuelwood supply chains is increasingly threatened by deforestation, population growth, and climate-induced vegetation degradation. This study evaluates the sustainability of fuelwood supply chains in three selected local government areas of Katsina State, examining production practices, trade volumes, price trends, and ecological indicators of forest stock depletion. Structured interviews were conducted with 90 fuelwood traders, 60 transporters, and 200 household consumers across urban and rural markets. Annual trade volume estimates were derived from trader records and cross-validated with household consumption surveys. Forest inventory data from community woodland sites were used to compute annual fuelwood extraction rates and compare them against measured biomass increment. Price trend analysis using monthly market data spanning four years identifies seasonal supply stress patterns. Results indicate that fuelwood extraction exceeds sustainable yields in five of the eight surveyed woodland sites by margins of 30 to 85 percent, corresponding to progressive canopy cover reductions documented in satellite imagery. The study identifies the most vulnerable supply chains and proposes a graduated intervention framework encompassing community forest management regulations, agroforestry incentives, and targeted liquefied petroleum gas and improved cookstove promotion. Keywords: fuelwood, supply chain, sustainability, Katsina State, deforestation.