Fuelwood Consumption Patterns and Their Implications for Vegetation Cover in Kebbi State

Fuelwood remains the dominant domestic energy source for the majority of rural and peri-urban households in northwestern Nigeria, creating substantial pressure on already fragile dryland vegetation. This study examines fuelwood consumption patterns, preferred species, collection distances, and vegetation cover implications in three rural districts of Kebbi State. Household surveys were administered to 185 respondents across nine communities, with data collected on daily fuelwood quantities, sources, and collection labour allocation. Vegetation assessments using belt transects measured woody plant density, cover, and species composition within five-kilometre concentric zones around sampled communities. Collection distance data provided an indirect indicator of local depletion over time. Results show average daily fuelwood consumption of 4.2 kilograms per household, with collection primarily from communal grazing reserves and fallow farmlands. Women and girls bore 79% of collection labour, averaging 2.8 hours per trip. Species-specific depletion was evident for high-calorie hardwoods including Acacia senegal and Combretum species. Vegetation transects confirmed significantly lower woody plant density within two kilometres of settlements compared to outer zones, suggesting localised depletion gradients. Household income was inversely correlated with fuelwood reliance, indicating potential substitution effects with LPG adoption. The study recommends subsidised clean cooking fuel programmes alongside community woodlot establishment as a twin-track policy response. Keywords: fuelwood, energy poverty, vegetation degradation, Kebbi State, dryland forests