The Economic Feasibility of Firewood Plantation Enterprises in Saudi Arabia PDF

Keywords

demand for firewood, plantation, economic feasibility and criteria, natural vegetation cover, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Sustainable management of natural resources has become an indispensable process to combat desertification in arid and semi-arid regions, where lands are dry, natural resources are scarce, and its fragile ecosystems are easily degradable. Ghada (Haloxylon persicum) and Ertaa (Calligonum comosum) are very important multipurpose indigenous shrubs in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, supplying firewood and fodder to local populations, and have environmental benefits in sand dune fixation and microenvironment improvement. Similar to other desert plants, the population of these two shrubs are badly degraded due to overexploitation. Thus, there is an urgent need for their proper management in order to sustain their productive and protective functions. This paper aims at reviewing and discussing some preliminary findings of investigations carried out in Saudi Arabia on these two desert multipurpose species, and evaluating the economic feasibility of firewood plantation enterprises in Saudi Arabia by applying different discounting and non-discounting economic criteria. Evaluating the economic feasibility for firewood plantation enterprises in Saudi Arabia is made to identify business opportunities to investors and create an incentive to contribute towards protecting the vegetation cover from deterioration by growing both species in the desert of Saudi Arabia commercially, thus, achieving the desired balance to meet high demand for firewood and grazing and to protect the vegetation cover from deterioration. Preliminary findings showed the promising nature of firewood plantations enterprises in Saudi Arabia and their potential role in balancing the high demand for firewood and the conservation of the natural vegetation cover in Saudi Arabia.