CLIMATE AND ENERGY

Production of improved cooking stoves and reduction of household charcoal consumption

From January to June 2021, 823 improved stoves were produced and 656 sold in the Virunga landscape, resulting in a total of 7,214 stoves produced and 4,624 sold since July 2017. By using these improved stoves, households have reduced their charcoal consumption from 9,089.64 tonnes to 4,039.84 tonnes since 2017, i.e. a reduction of 5,049.8 tonnes overall. During this reporting period, a reduction of 576.1 tonnes was achieved.

In Luki, a survey was carried out to establish the baseline of household fuelwood and charcoal consumption, and will be followed up by training CLDs and CARGs on the production of economical cooking stoves.

A similar initiative, with improved cooking stoves produced by rural women’s associations and generalization of their use in urban centers is being pursued in LTMN.

Green charcoal production (Ecomakala) in Virunga

Production of charcoal from fuelwood plantations and using improved kilns reduces pressure on natural forest ecosystems to supply the market. From January to June 2021, approximately 4,856 tonnes of charcoal were produced and sold by 819 planters who operated approximately 604 ha of woodlots.