Increasing difficulties and drudgery are faced in mountain areas because of diminishing resources of rural energy caused by inefficient use of fuelwood, increasing reliance on biomass, and a consequent loss to agriculture when crop and animal wastes are used as fuel. Lack of proper mechanisms means that a significant increase in the use of renewable energy technologies has not occured, although some governments have attempted wide-scale introduction of such. People's participation and decentralized community - level action programmes are one approach to assessing energy needs, determining appropriate technologies, and promoting their use. Integrated efforts from all stake-holders are an essential given. So far, energy programmes have had a negligible effect on unsustainable energy use patterns in the mountains.
