Nepal’s Cooking Habits Hurt Forests and Health

March 15, 2025 – Kathmandu, Nepal

In Nepal, more than half of all homes—51%—still cook with firewood, says the National Census 2021. That’s a big number! It’s down from 64% in 2011, which means some people are switching to cleaner ways to cook. But the change is slow, and it’s causing problems for the land and people’s health.

Most homes using firewood are in villages. About 80% of rural families rely on firewood, animal dung, or plant leftovers to make their meals. In cities, it’s different—89% of people use LP gas, which is a cleaner fuel that comes in tanks. Electricity for cooking is rare everywhere, though. The census shows only a tiny number of homes use it.

Electricity is also hard to get in some places. In the flat Tarai region, 99% of homes have power from the national grid. But up in the snowy Himalayan mountains, only 32% do. This makes it tough for mountain families to stop using firewood.

Experts say this firewood habit is bad news. It hurts Nepal’s forests because people cut down trees to burn them. This is called deforestation, and it means fewer trees to clean the air or stop floods. Inside homes, burning firewood makes smoky air that’s dangerous to breathe. This indoor air pollution can make people sick, especially women and kids who spend a lot of time near the fire. Coughing, sore eyes, and even bigger health problems can happen because of this smoke.

Women and children are the most affected. They often cook the meals, so they’re stuck breathing the bad air every day. Doctors warn that this can lead to serious illnesses over time. Cleaner options like LP gas or electric stoves could help, but they’re not easy to get in villages. They cost more money, and some places don’t have the power lines or gas deliveries to make them work.

The census shows 44.3% of homes now use LP gas, which is a big jump from before. But that still leaves millions of families using firewood. In cities, it’s easier to switch because gas and power are nearby. In rural areas, though, families stick to what they know—firewood—because it’s free if they collect it themselves.

Nepal wants to fix this. The government and helpers from other countries are trying to bring clean energy to more homes. They hope to save the forests and keep people healthy. But it’s a big job, and it’s taking time. For now, many Nepali families keep cooking the old way, even though it’s hard on the land and their lungs.

The numbers from 2021 show things are getting better, but not fast enough. People are watching to see if Nepal can make a bigger change soon—for the trees, the air, and the kids who deserve to breathe easy.