CleanEnergy&SoilsRestoration
The Problem
Our association, Tchad Plus, intends to focus on fighting against climate change and desertification in the rural areas and peri-urban of main cities at southern (Chad) that lack low-cost accessible gas or other energy sources. The social-ecological effects of deforestation are perceptible as increasing desertification, which is advancing at the fast pace of about 1 km per year, and is now at the gates of Chad's capital; and, creating environmental migrants, where internal displacement from rural to urban areas are connected to the reduced capability of depleted soil to provide for self-subsistence. The causes of deforestation we focus on are related to wood-cutting for energy production (cooking and heating) and to extensive agricultural practices, use of herbicides and pesticides, leading to soil erosion, deterioration, and impoverishment. These cumulative effects are pushing the Southern Chad populations to abandon the countryside, they increase the exploitation of land to compensate for the decrease of productivity. The causes of deforestation in the region are the consumption of energy produced by the biomass in cities, the production of wood coal/carbon, and agricultural activities (Karekezi,1990). Thus, having an impact on two elements of the chain will allow our conservation solution to be effective, impact local communities, regenerate soil and restore ecosystems, have long-term effect, all by being reproducible in similar semi-arid to desert zones.
Our Proposal
Our main solutions to be implemented on-site through the direct involvement of civil society, essential to create long-term change in three main phases - We will carry out environmental issues and protection awareness campaign involving state institutions, associations, community leaders, etc. - We will provide non-formal education to empower individuals and groups to become drivers of change, and training for local actors in manufacturing the improved cooking stoves and in the design, planting and management of the trees and supporting species in a regenerative way - Targeting of the rural population, where the non-formal education and training will be held by the locals with our support. Our primary target groups are women, whom we consider the households decision-makers, youth, as the main actors for change, and vulnerable social categories, to be empowered. Our actions are: 1. The manufacture of improved cooking stoves to optimize the consumption of firewood with adapted pots and pans, The project will invest and support in the training of local subjects and in strengthening the capacity of local craftsmen for the manufacture of improved stoves and of the adapted pots and pans to these stoves, which are income-generating activities. 2.Parallel design and planting poly-cultures forests with the Acacia Albida as its main "miracle" plant well-known for its fast-growing, adaptation to impoverished soils and its properties in soil regeneration and fertilizing action
We Assume that...
Technical capacities for manufacturing on scale, energy and water sources. Mentality and behavior change is a process that requires time.
Constraints to Overcome
Even though we have a lot of documentation on previous experiences with improved cooking stoves manufacturing; we will need to invest RD for recycling local materials to start local manufacturing. Energy source will be another challenge to overcome by installing a electric generator. The awareness sensitizing is a process for which we need to invest on all stakeholders, state, regional and local institutions representatives, associations, community leaders, including the heads of cantons/villages, especially the land chiefs. Without their approval especially, land chiefs, it will become difficult to achieve our goal. For soils restoration, we will need water sources for initial extension of the acacia albida plant nursery in the communities. We will to invest in capacities building of the main end-users of improved cooking stoves and the plants. The appropriation of improved cooking stoves and acacia albida by the communities will be an asset to achieve our goal.
Current Work
Our team at Tchad Plus and International experts will invest in R&D in order to find the best local materials as inputs for prototyping for the manufacturing of the improved cooking stoves. We will to work on the acacia albida plants nursery for sensitizing uses.
Current Needs
Our team will need funding and coaching/mentor-ship for know-how sharing and learn from best practices.