South Kivu is part of the huge Congo Basin, the second largest rainforest in the world, that is critical to the global climate crisis. In this particular area MLFO focuses on serious problem of small scale and slow deforestation, caused by household consumption of hardwood charcoal. The vast majority of the population in eastern DRC rely on hardwood charcoal for cooking, even in urban areas where alternatives, such as petroleum or gas, are available. Forest is being cut down for the production of hardwood charcoal for household consumption all over the province.
To tackle the complex situation in DRC, MLFO pilots a project in rural areas of Kaziba and Nyangezi health zones to replace hardwood charcoal with renewable biomass energy in the form of charcoal made of bamboo. Bamboo charcoal is a safe renewable energy, and since bamboo (unlike wood) can be harvested, it reduces the risk of precipitating deforestation. Furthermore, it has very significant burning qualities, it grows in the local habitat and it is important element of reforestation, especially in the area vulnerable to erosion. The aim is to introduce and adopt bamboo charcoal as a crucial step to more climate resilient communities sensitive to their local resources, and to protect the local system by active reforestation.
