Abstract
The unsustainable use of biomass in meeting households’ energy requirements affects the climate negatively through increasing rate deforestation and the release of carbon monoxides and methane into the atmosphere. Improved cookstove (ICS) ensures efficient use of available energy from fuelwood by controlling excessive energy loss. There exists limited information on the willingness and challenges associated with the adoption of ICS among forest communities, especially in developing countries. We used Enugu State in Nigeria as a case study. We surveyed 160 households in forest communities to determine the households’ willingness to pay for the use of ICS. We found that 86% of the households were willing to pay for the use of ICS as a climate change mitigation strategy. Also, we found that the households were willing to pay a mean value of N2, 656.67 (~$8), for an improved cookstove, with a range of N1000 to N5000. Education, farming experience, household size, location, and income were the factors that negatively influenced households’ willingness to pay, while age and gender positively influenced households’ willingness to pay for ICS. Among others, we recommended a gender-sensitive policy framework as gender plays vital role in determining willingness to pay for ICS. In addition, willingness to pay varies across locations; therefore, generic policies might be counterproductive.
