NXNews-Issue9-FINAL-ForWeb -160916LowRes
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ECOWATCH | SUSTAINABILITY<br />
CO<br />
Changing lives through sustainable projects<br />
Newcross has been a carbon<br />
neutral organisation for<br />
many years, but how does<br />
that change lives for the<br />
better? Well, it means we<br />
support projects across the<br />
world that reduce carbon<br />
emissions and by doing so,<br />
help people live better, more<br />
sustainable lives in their local<br />
environment.<br />
We currently offset 348 tonnes of carbon<br />
dioxide emissions, the<br />
equivalent of 232 small cars or 58<br />
large African bush elephants!<br />
One of the projects supported<br />
by Newcross is the provision of<br />
fuel-efficient cooking stoves in<br />
Uganda. 95% of Ugandans<br />
rely on solid fuel cooking<br />
methods, usually charcoal or<br />
wood, which has led to the<br />
degradation of the local<br />
forests.<br />
The improved stoves feature an<br />
insulated fuel chamber that<br />
reduces the amount of fuel needed<br />
by improving the combustion<br />
efficiency and retaining heat.<br />
It also reduces the level of<br />
toxic fumes that families are<br />
exposed to during the<br />
cooking process.<br />
Families are able to save money on<br />
fuel, which means they can pay<br />
school fees for their children,<br />
start a business and pay<br />
health care costs.<br />
Newcross also supports a<br />
reforestation project that aims<br />
to re-instate the Kikuyu forest<br />
in the Great Rift Valley in<br />
Kenya. Deforestation for cooking<br />
fuel, building materials and medicinal<br />
needs caused the forest to be almost<br />
completely destroyed, resulting in<br />
water sources drying up, soil<br />
erosion and the loss of wildlife.<br />
Conflicts between two<br />
native groups over dwindling<br />
resources also caused<br />
fighting, loss of life and loss<br />
of tourism business.<br />
So far, the reforestation<br />
project has planted over<br />
150,000 trees of over 20 different<br />
species. This has created<br />
employment and skill-sharing<br />
opportunities for local communities<br />
as well as water regulation across the<br />
region. Families are able to earn a<br />
living from selling produce such<br />
as fruit and honey, and<br />
benefit from an increase in<br />
eco-tourism.<br />
Find out more about these<br />
projects and how we’re helping<br />
change lives for the better<br />
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonoffsetprojects.html
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