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Sustainable Effects of Small Hydropower Substituting Firewood Program in Majiang County, Guizhou Province, China

Author

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  • Xiaoxia Zhang

    (Soil and Water Conservation of Beijing Engineering Research Center, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Tonggang Zha

    (Soil and Water Conservation of Beijing Engineering Research Center, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yun Zhao

    (Engineering Design & Research Center, China Institute of Water Resources & Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Jing Qin

    (Engineering Design & Research Center, China Institute of Water Resources & Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Zhiyuan Lyv

    (College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Zhijie Ma

    (Engineering Design & Research Center, China Institute of Water Resources & Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Haiyan Yu

    (College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yushen Zhu

    (Soil and Water Conservation of Beijing Engineering Research Center, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Gaomin Wang

    (College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Felix Tettenborn

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Benedikt Freiherr von Lueninck

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

Abstract

Small hydropower substituting fuel (SHSF) is an ecological environment protection program to improve regional ecosystems and alleviate poverty. However, the sustainability of SHSF programs remains controversial due to lingering doubts about its potential for socioeconomic development and its environmental impacts. The sustainability of SHSF was examined based on field investigations and household questionnaire surveys. The results were as follows: (1) Biomass of SHSF protected masson pine ( Pinus massoniana ) and weeping cypress ( Platycladus orientalis ) plantations were 11.06 t·ha −1 and 7.15 t·ha −1 higher than unprotected plantations, respectively. Furthermore, the differences in ecosystem biomass were mainly derived from arbor biomass. While the energy conversion efficiency based on field investigations was merely 1.28 kg (kWh) −1 , which was only 64% of the empirical value and 54% of the guideline for accounting for the ecological benefit of small hydropower substituting fuel. (2) Households’ total income in SHSF villages was higher than in households with access to a hydropower plant but no substituting fuel or households with no hydropower plant. (3) Most of the households had a positive attitude towards SHSF because of its cheaper electricity and associated ecological environmental improvements. Overall, our results suggest optimistic and sustainable prospects for the SHSF program; however, continued education and policy communications are needed to sustain program success.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoxia Zhang & Tonggang Zha & Yun Zhao & Jing Qin & Zhiyuan Lyv & Zhijie Ma & Haiyan Yu & Yushen Zhu & Gaomin Wang & Felix Tettenborn & Benedikt Freiherr von Lueninck, 2017. "Sustainable Effects of Small Hydropower Substituting Firewood Program in Majiang County, Guizhou Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:6:p:988-:d:101012
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