The overall goal of this project is to support local people that have chosen not to carbonize become used to another way of getting money. The Bokala and Besenge sites harbor about 240 households, whose way of life is cutting trees, making charcoals and practicing shifting cultivation. It is estimated that144.000 trees are cut down every year, and 120 ha deforested for field purpose. This is a threat to local ecosystem. In the long run, the national and the global world will be hit by the impact of these actions.
Aware of the long run consequences of this situation, ASJT has set up an alternative activity dealing with mats production by the potential charcoal makers. The activity relies on the presence in the forest of abundant non ligneous products (straws) used to interweave mats. The mats are sold on Mbandaka, Kinshasa and Congo market in Brazzaville. Beneficiaries have been organized into small scale enterprises trained by international NGOs such as FAO, SNV, and ICRAFT. Funds will help improve working tools and marketing techniques.
Successful enterprises will set a model for others to follow in using less and less activities that destroy the ecosystems.