Natural Resources – Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages of wood as a source of providing energy

Advantages:

1. Renewable energy sources.
2. Cheap/free – mostly in rural areas.
3. Easily accessible where jungles or woodlands exist.
4. Tsotso stoves conserve live trees.
5. Technology needed is very cheap and readily available.
6. Ash can be used as fertilizer to promote crop growth.
7. Multi-functional energy sources.

Disadvantages

1. Over-exploitation of forests has serious environmental effects such as deforestation, destruction of ecosystems and animal habitats, accelerated soil erosion among others.
2. Air pollution occurs from burning of the energy sources.
3. Use can destroy forests or homes through accidental fires.