Abstract In West Africa, fuelwood is the main source of energy in rural areas. The growing needs for wood energy cause the degradation of forests, including mangroves in Benin. This study assessed the wood energy needs in the mangrove areas of RAMSAR sites 1017 and 1018 in Benin. Surveys were conducted with 614 stakeholders (firewood housekeepers, collectors and sellers, manufacturers and sellers of charcoal, and food sellers). The annual wood consumption, annual wood consumption per capita, annual wood need per capita, and the projection of future wood needs per year and over 10 years were estimated using appropriate formulas. The results showed that, on average, 8.21 m3 of firewood and 23.19 kg of charcoal were consumed per capita per year. Annual firewood and charcoal needs were 12.83 m3 and 36.25 kg per capita, respectively. A gap of around 36% remains to be filled to meet wood energy needs at RAMSAR sites 1017 and 1018 in Benin. The wood needs are projected to be 18.859806 hm3 for firewood and 53,271.485 tons for charcoal in 2027. Sustainable strategies including the use of domestic gas and solar energy should therefore be developed to meet these wood energy needs and to save mangrove ecosystems.

中文翻译：

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红树林中的薪材消耗和供应策略 - 来自贝宁 RAMSAR 站点的见解

摘要 在西非，薪柴是农村地区的主要能源。对木材能源日益增长的需求导致森林退化，包括贝宁的红树林。本研究评估了贝宁 RAMSAR 站点 1017 和 1018 红树林区域的木材能源需求。对 614 名利益相关者（木柴管家、收藏家和销售商、木炭制造商和销售商以及食品销售商）进行了调查。年木材消费量、人均年木材消费量、人均年木材需求量以及对未来每年和 10 年以上木材需求量的预测均使用适当的公式进行估算。结果表明，人均每年平均消耗木柴8.21立方米和23.19公斤木炭。每年人均木柴和木炭需求量分别为 12.83 立方米和 36.25 公斤。为了满足贝宁 RAMSAR 站点 1017 和 1018 的木材能源需求，仍有约 36% 的缺口需要填补。预计 2027 年的木柴需求为 18.859806 hm3 木柴和 53,271.485 吨木炭。因此，应制定可持续战略，包括使用家用天然气和太阳能，以满足这些木材能源需求并拯救红树林生态系统。