Much More Than Firewood: Woody Plants in Household Well-Being Among Rural Communities in Argentina

Abstract

The use of firewood as an energetic resource in various rural regions of the world is essential for the satisfaction of basic human needs. However, the role of firewood in domestic life and its link to household well-being and food sovereignty have been poorly addressed. In order to investigate these aspects, an ethnobotanical study was carried out in three socio-environmental systems of Argentina ( Chaco, Pampa, and Patagonia). Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered and analyzed. A total of 78 firewood species were recorded. The main use of firewood is for household heating, followed by food preparation and cooking, and lastly for starting and producing home fires. In total 21 firewood species are preferred over others for their various qualities and biophysical attributes, thus becoming of great cultural importance. From different examples and testimonies, we gather that the link between peoples and firewood transcends the mere utilitarian sphere, giving rise to aspects related to the symbolic, emotional, affective, and culinary, among others. These aspects contribute to the well-being of households and communities. In this way, the different firewood species become central in the domestic sphere, not only in terms of their combustion power, but also because of their importance in social, cultural and food life.

Species selection criteria for firewood. Preferred species and classification categories in two local communities in eastern Misiones, Argentina

“…In general, the same attributes have been mentioned similarly by people of other cultural belonging in other regions (Jiménez-Escobar 2021, Kataki & Konwer 2002, Kituyi et al 2001. Features like abundance, availability and aroma of species as local categories reported in the literature (Cardoso et al 2015, Cruz et al 2020, Doumecq et al 2023, Jiménez-Escobar 2021, Jiménez-Escobar & Martínez 2019, they were not cited as selection or evaluation criteria for firewood in our study area.…”

“…Selection criteria were identified through the analysis of interviews, field records, and observations during collecting activities. In addition, the Value of Preference (VP) was calculated, considering the frequency of citations of each preferred species by the total number of informants and expressed as a percentage (Doumecq et al 2023, Ramos et al 2008a. To analyze the desirable characteristics of firewood, we observed the conditioning and collection, the strategies for ignition and maintenance of the fire in the combustion devices and the characteristics of the combustion of the different logs in each device.…”

“…Local categories define this species as good, hard, heavy, soft, and light. These attributes were also considered in rural communities of Chaco Seco, Pampa and Patagonia linked to food preparation and cooking; the selection of some firewood to improve the flavours of traditional foods (Doumecq et al 2023) was not cited in our regions.…”

“…Thus, the knowledge is not limited to a specific range of species but covers a set of physical characteristics of firewood that are directly linked to the efficiency of combustion and the purpose pursued. In this sense, previous investigations, such as those carried out by Cardoso et al (2015) and Doumecq et al (2023), have pointed out that the woody materials used to start the fire are often low-quality components within the general repertoire but that are used and become relevant when they can generate good combustion with thicker pieces of wood.…”

The impacts of climate change, energy policy and traditional ecological practices on future firewood availability for Diné (Navajo) People

“…Firewood and charcoal are an important source of traditional energy that roughly a third of the world relies on [ 33 ]. Importantly, firewood is fundamental to IEK-based practices and Indigenous self-determination [ 32 , 34 , 35 ]. And, critically, the woodlands upon which individuals rely are threatened by climate change [ 36 , 37 ].…”