Improved Community Cooking Stove- an alternative to mitigate fuelwood pressure in North Trashigang. (BHU/99/01)

Project Details & Results

The project seeks to gradually but drastically reduce fuelwood consumption in North Trashigang. The project is based on the fact the local people can be made aware on their environmental problems and its adverse consequences, and take timely action to address these problems through joint community efforts.

The project involved local community in launching this effort to reduce the use of fuel wood in institutional cooking. The five sites, including a nunnery, have been successful and the demonstration of this technology by religious institution seems to be particularly effective. According to the project evaluation carried out by the Royal Institute of Management, the improved stoves have generated great interest in pursuing improved cook stoves in the community households including among local district administrators. The local vendors suggest for a smaller version of cooking stoves suitable for the local household.

The technology:
The technology has proved fuel-efficient as per the evaluation report although concrete data of the fire wood used was not found in black and white. But, in the words of the wood supplier, he had complained that there was reduction in the supply order from the vendors.

Environmental Benefit:
There is a marked reduction in the consumption of firewood. The reduced use of firewood is reducing pressure on local forests, which are a major source of firewood in the area.

Livelihood:
The institutions in which these stoves have been installed, including the Nunnery, may be saving money on the less number of purchase of firewood and saving time in collecting it. This implies that they have more time and resources to dedicate time on meeting their needs on the other areas. In respect of health and hygiene the benefits are obvious as the community institution kitchens are smokefree and are inhaling less smoke thereby improving their health and hygiene. The technology is easy to operate and kitchens are cleaner than the traditional times of using the open stoves.

Capacity Building:
The project has built capacity of the BYDA. In the past, youth oriented cultural activities were its main focus, but, this project has helped them to move beyond to other areas such as the Environmental Friendly Measures and creating awareness about the adverse effects of environment around them. There was awareness created among the local religious institutions about the green environment and how neglect of environment conservation affect their lives if timely measures are not undertaken.

Notable Community Participation
The project concept was identified by the community based on the fragile state of their natural environment. The community provided data, identified villages and community kitchens(lhakhangs/Budhist temples) for installing improved community stoves. About one-third of the project cost comes from the project beneficiaires.The implementing NGO merely serves as catalyst while the community themselves are responsible for seeing the project through.

Capacity - Building Component
The Bhutan Youth Development Association who have been involved in implementing the project have gained experiences in carrying out the environmental conservation related projects.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
in reducing the fuelwood consumptions by community kitchen after the installment of improved stoves, the forest have been saved and indirectly has helped in sustainable livelihoods.

Gender Focus
Improved Community Stoves have also been installed in a Nunnery (Khardung Nunnery) where Nuns take care of the operations of the stoves. Therefore, women have also been considered in this project.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
participation of local as well as indigenous people as institutions can take-up people from all areas.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Culturally, Bhutanese people have great faith in thier religion. Public awareness on global environment have been promoted through involvement of religious leaders in the project activites. As part of the project activity, a workshop has been conducted to promote public awareness on global environment. Environmental awareness programme was not only created among the religious institutions but also to other schools and other institutions and to the public that several requests have been received by BYDA for more installation of improved stoves.

Policy Impact
The project has caught the interest of the Trashigang District Administration, who wishes to expand the project to other community kitchens, such as schools, monasteries and army camps. The response has been sought for from other districts of the country also.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms
A nominal amount of cash was collected (Nu. 70,000) in total from the beneficiaries in order to produce effective community ownership of the project.

Project Results
Policy Influence:
The project has caught the interest of the Trashigang District Administration. Received a letter from the District Administrator (Dzongdag in National Language), requesting for more community cooking stoves for other areas as well. The list included 37 number of schools and religious institutions. The letter no is 'DAT/PL-20/2001/ dated 25th July 2001.

Replication of project activities:
The BYDA as an association did not have the replication of project activities, as currently the association has been dissolved. However, because of the good demonstration project, and as the technology has proved to be an alternative, there as other schools and religious institutions under the SGP fundings.

Project Sustainability:
There certainly has the sustainability aspect of the project. As the religious institutions are are always existent, the beneficiaries continue using the improved stoves as this technology have proved to be fuel efficient and easy to operate.