Designing Ecological Habitats - Gaia Education

210 Designing ecological Habitats
Doña Justa smiling
proudly next to her
fuel efficient stove.
reach maturity. Prior to commencing a project, AAP meets with farmers
to educate them about the importance of reforestation in relation to their
present and future economic and social wellbeing. They teach agro-forestry
methods that combine farming, proper animal grazing, and forestry to help
both practices thrive, and monitoring visits encourage them to observe and
maintain growing trees. AAP strives to instill a sense of pride and ownership
in these projects so participants feel invested in ensuring long-term success
by being part of the solution.
Fuel-Efficient Stoves: Saving Forests and Changing Lives
Mother Nature’s force is felt with great intensity. The small Central America
isthmus bears 29 volcanoes in five countries and braces itself annually
against destructive tropical storms and hurricanes. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch
pummeled Central America, especially Nicaragua and Honduras, with over
1900mm of rain over five days. Communities living on vulnerable, deforested
hillsides were some of the most afflicted, losing their humble homes to
massive landslides. In the wake of Hurricane Mitch, it became evident that
deforestation needed to be curbed and forest systems replenished.
Reforestation is one method that contributes to regaining ecosystem
balance. However, more action is needed in places like Honduras, where
it is commonly estimated that more than 75% of the population still cooks
over open flames on U-shaped, rammed-earth stoves or large oil barrels,
consuming an enormous amount of firewood. Trees, Water & People
partnered with the Aprovecho Research Center in Oregon, the Honduran
Association for Development (AHDESA), and Rotary International to take
on the dual challenge of developing a fuel-efficient, wood-burning stove that
would be accepted and readily used by Honduran women.
Working with well-loved community leader Doña Justa Nuñez, TWP
and Aprovecho stove engineers created the Justa stove (named in her
honor), which combines principles of clean
combustion and insulation. The unique
L-shaped clay elbow or chamber sends heat
upwards at a high velocity. Insulation traps
the heat and forces it up against the pot or
cooking surface above the elbow. The goal
was to create a stove acceptable to Honduran
women, especially for making tortillas, yet
reduce the amount of firewood used in their
everyday cooking to help protect the valuable
forests and water resources.
Since 1999, TWP has built over 35,000 fuelefficient
stoves throughout Central America
and Haiti with the help of Aprovecho, Rotary
International, various foundations, regional
NGOs, and dedicated community members.