The study was carried out to explore fuelwood consumption rate for different activities, such as cooking, boiling water, preparing animal feed and burning to protect cattle against insects; species preference; and to examine the characteristics of cook stoves. Approximately 96% of sampled households depend on fuelwood as a primary source for cooking, boiling water, preparing animal feed and protecting cattle against insects. Average fuelwood consumption for cooking and boiling water in very large families is significantly higher than that with very small families. Overall average fuelwood consumption for cooking and boiling water per family per day is 5.21 +/- 0.11 kg and 2.82 +/- 0.11 kg. Households with a high number of cattle or pigs consume a higher amount of fuelwood for producing smoke to protect cattle against insects or preparing pig feed. The average fuelwood consumption rate is approximately 5.60 +/- 0.11 kg day(-1) family(-1) for repelling insects to protect animals and 3.90 +/- 0.19 kg day(-1) family(-1) for preparing pig feed. The most preferred species is Shorea obtusa followed by Dipterocarpus obtusifolius, Xylia xylocarpa, Cratoxylon prunifolium, and Dipterocarpus tuberculatus. Two models of improved cooking stoves (the New Lao Stove and the Korng Rey Stove) are the most frequently used stove type in the study area. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.