Case studies

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• Reforestation in Brazil

  • Background

    Brazil holds about one-third of the world‘s remaining rainforests, but because of both legal and illegal logging it is shrinking at a rate of 30,000 to 40,000 square kilometres each year. Given the importance of forests for sequestering carbon dioxide, deforestation in Brazil is not just a regional problem but a global one.

  • The project

    The project has seen an area over 1,000 hectares previously used for extensive cattle grazing activities reforested with more than 50 native species. Due to the tropical climate, trees grow faster and therefore sequester significantly more carbon than they would elsewhere. The multi-species approach ensures that a natural habitat is restored, creating a biodiversity hotspot very similar to Brazil’s native forest.

  • The benefits

    While capturing and storing carbon dioxide is the primary goal of this project, a wide range of additional environmental and social benefits occur through its implementation. Employment opportunities for local communities have been created at the tree nursery, and other activities related to the maintenance and monitoring of the forest. Importantly local capacity has been built by transferring the knowledge and skills required to manage forests sustainably. The project will help restore the natural habitat of some of the most diverse faunas and floras in the world.

• Biogas digesters in India

  • Background

    The majority of families in rural India depend on wood to provide domestic energy. Collecting this wood, often from miles away, takes countless hours of work per week, which in turn reduces time for other tasks. Water is often not boiled long enough to remove germs and quick, nutritionally poor meals are prepared to save time. The smoke generated by traditional wood fires can also have severe health impacts.

  • The project

    The project uses digesters to generate a biogas from animal waste. The gas produced can be used for cooking, illumination, and heating water, and so removing the burden placed on having to collect wood. More time can be put in to preparing meals with a better nutritional value and for more productive activities such as child education. Furthermore, the elimination of hazardous wood smoke greatly improves safety and hygiene in the household. The waste produce by the digesters can be used as a fertiliser, improving crop yields.

  • The benefits

    While reducing greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fuel wood with biogas generated from animal waste, the project contributes further to promoting sustainable development. It encourages more productive use of time and improves living conditions. A further benefit is the employment opportunities created through the construction and maintenance of the digesters.

• Cooking stoves in Kenya

  • Background

    Wood fuel provides approximately 90% of households’ energy requirements in rural Kenya, with the majority of energy required for cooking. Traditional cooking stoves are inefficient, leading to issues of deforestation and erosion are large quantities of wood are used to prepare each meal. In addition, the cooking methods used generate large amounts of fumes causing long-term health issues.

  • The project

    The project will provide around 20,000 high quality cooking stoves out of which approximately 80% have already been built. The stoves are provided free of charge, allowing even the poorest members of the community to benefit, and generate higher temperatures with lower levels of smoke.

  • The benefits

    The improved stoves eliminate the health risks associated with traditional cooking methods and require substantially less wood, reducing the time and money previously needed to purchase and collect it. Deforestation and soil erosion have been reduced. Local artisans paid with carbon revenues are trained to construct the stoves from locally dug clay, creating employment opportunities and additional income for the region.

• Stoves in Tanzania

  • Background

    In Tanzania, the most common way of cooking is to use open fire stoves, which can be dangerous and inefficient. Associated with this are the areas of natural forests being lost to produce wood and charcoal for cooking. Deforestation and the loss of biodiversity rank among the most pressing environmental issues in the country.

  • The project

    The project is improving living conditions with energy efficient stoves. The stoves are up to 60% more efficient than traditional cooking methods, reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. With less fuel to collect, time can be spent on other activities such as child education and agriculture. For those relying on charcoal, it also means an increase in the monthly budget available for non-cooking purchases.

  • The benefits

    The improved stoves eliminate the risk associated with traditional forms of open fire cooking. They reduce the time and money previously needed to purchase and collect the fuel, and the high quality construction means the stoves last for a long time. Deforestation and the loss of biodiversity are being addressed.