Demand for indigenous tree species from Kakamega Forest for timber, firewood, carving wood, charcoal production and poles is so great that annual illegal indigenous timber and charcoal extraction alone may be as high as 100,000 cubic meters. Promotion of fuel wood energy saving methods and alternative energy technologies to the forest adjacent communities are expected to conserve the forest by reducing the amount of fuel wood collected from it. It is expected to also improve livelihoods and enhance productivity, because less time will be spent on fuel wood collection, an exercise normally performed by women and children.
In partnership with the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) the Kakamega Integrated Conservation Project has introduced models of firewood saving stoves deemed acceptable and affordable by the 1992 KIFCON domestic energy survey.
- The forest adjacent communities are made aware of the energy saving techniques and technologies through discussions, participatory technical training and demonstrations, exchange visits and provision of resource materials containing fuel-wood energy saving technology information.
- Local entrepreneurs have also been trained by ITDG to commercialize the energy stoves. Assistance in marketing the stoves made by the forest adjacent community for income-generation has also been provided by ITDG.
Fuel wood energy-saving devices being produced at the community-owned production centre near Kakamega Forest
- The introduction of alternatives to wood stoves such as sawdust stoves, and sugar industry waste products have also been included.
- Awareness creation includes other energy conservation options, such as solar and biogas technologies.
KCJ portable fuel wood energy-saving stove and Maendeleo Upesi Liner (Kenya Ceramic Stove)
- By the end of 2001, a total of 3,795 fuel wood energy saving stoves had been installed to the forest adjacent community (1103 upesi liners, 20 upesi portables, 37 shielded fires, 2635 mud-stoves and 4 saw dust metal stoves. A production unit for the fuel wood energy saving devices has also been installed and is being managed by the local community.
A community-owned production centre for fuel wood energy-saving devices was established near Kakamega Forest
In 2001, more than 300 fuel wood energy-saving devices were produced by the production centre
Fuel wood energy-saving stoves are being promoted in households around Kakamega Forest. In 2001, the community was mobilized to install a total of 3799 energy-saving devices
- New initiatives were made to sensitize schools about institutional fuel wood energy-saving stoves, and hotels in trading centers were encouraged to use suitable improved fuel wood energy-saving stoves. As a result, 10 fuel wood energy-saving stoves were installed in schools, institutions, hotels and hospitals around Kakamega Forest.
The project also promotes institutional fuelwood energy-saving stoves that are suitable for schools, hotels etc.
- The experiences with these energy technologies are being documented.
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