The rural population of the Himalayas has been using firewood as the only source of energy for generations. Increasing population coupled with decreasing forest resources have led to strict environmental protection laws in the area. This paper analyses the fuelwood consumption pattern for households along an altitudinal gradient in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttaranchal. Firewood consumption was 2.80, 2.00, 1.42, 1.10 and 1.07 kg/capita/day, respectively, above 2000, 1500-2000, 1000-1500, 500-1000 and below 500 m altitude. The energy expenditure for fuelwood collection was 60.77, 62.57, 76.70, 87.23 and 85.14 MJ/capita/year, accordingly. Firewood consumption was influenced by climate and season of the year. On average, the fuelwood consumption was 2.0-3.0-fold higher in winter than summer (considering 265 days as winter and 100 days as summer). The present information on fuelwood consumption pattern by different altitude could form the basis for designing appropriate technologies for energy plantations in the region. The biomass consumption rate has also been discussed in environmental perspective in the Himalayan region. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.