IC stove.

This is continuation of last year ICOSCAD project. It’s development based on the previous experiences, stakeholders’ feedback as well as better involvement of local community.

Theory training for local leaders.

ICOSCAD will be in one year campaigning against deforestation in the same district of Gisagara, one of the most densely populated rural districts in Rwanda which is facing different problems related to deforestation such as delayed rainfall, soil erosion and high winds due to the high consumption of firewood in traditional cooking stoves and local communities lack knowledge concerning the role of forests in their daily life.

Due to lack of other energy alternatives than fuel wood for cooking in households and schools, Gisagara population got to put much pressure and traffic on forest for search of fuel wood. As threats to the local forests, there is; Extinction of some species of trees especially calyptus (as it is the most preferable fuel wood source). And this extinction in return weakens ecosystem in local forests namely: Duwane and Kibilizi; Animals’ displacement especially small animals and birds; high erosion which uses to sweep away parties of forests and its biodiversity; and etc.

Therefore, ICOSCAD will be sensitizing local community about the role of forests and encouraging them to use improved cooking stoves (ICS). These stoves save up to 75% of firewood compared to traditional stoves and reduce smoke emission significantly (data from MOD 2008). It will achieve this by training 182 most influential young people about the role of ICSs and how to construct them so that they can adequately spread the knowledge in their communities and construct 39 Improved Cooking Stoves for 13 local schools (as the greatest consumers of firewood) and poor families. Indeed, ICOSCAD will be also enhancing the knowledge, experience and project ownership of 130 previous trained local leaders and 17 volunteers by utilizing them as trainers.

by reducing the amount of the wood used for cooking and decreasing the energy and time spent on the woods collection from the forests, this project is expected to contribute to not only the environmental improvement such as saving biodiversity but also to the social and primary educational enhancement . As outcomes, ICOSCAD will decrease; the level of deforestation in the area, air pollution and respiratory diseases, risk of house fires, and also the level of domestic violence against women.