Future Challenge: A Paradigm Shift in the Forestry Sector - Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services - page 439

Photo 21.3 Log transportation for trade from Malaysia to the Philippines (©DJ Snelder)
forest product trade during the same time period. The differences in trade trends can
be explained in terms of access and availability (abundance or scarcity) of harvesta-
ble forest resources; and in the relative contribution and financial value of processed
forest products. Most countries in the region experienced a decrease in forest product
trade between 2000 and 2002 (Table 21.2). Bhutan and Vietnam even changed from
forest-product exporters to forest-product importers. These changes can likewise be
explained by an increasing financial value of imported forest products and a decreasing
value of exported forest products, suggesting a mounting shortage of locally produced
forest products (see Table 21.2). The export of forest products in most South and
Southeast Asian countries accounted for less than one percent of 2000-2002 GDP; the
exceptions being Indonesia with forest products exports accounting for 3.26 percent of
GDP, Malaysia - 3.20 percent, and Lao PDR - 2.63 percent (EarthTrends 2005).
Woodfuels (fuelwood and charcoal) production is the greatest among forest products
in terms of volume in Asia (782 million cubic metres in 2002; see Table 21.3 for data on
individual countries in South and Southeast Asia). However, woodfuels are produced pri-
marily for local consumption, with only 22,480m 3 of woodfuels (eight percent) traded
internationally (FAO 2005). During 1990-2002 the per capita use of woodfuels declined
in countries with higher GNI levels: specifically Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri
Lanka and Thailand. During the same period, the use of fuelwoods grew in the lower GNI
countries: Bhutan, India, Lao PDR, and Myanmar (Tables 21.2 and 21.3). In the near
future, it is expected that woodfuels consumption will remain stable, or even increase
slightly, in lower GNI countries. While fuelwood use varies both between and within
Asian countries, it is a common and important energy source not only for low-income
rural and urban households, but also higher income households (FAO 2003a).