WWF's Global Annual Forest Report 97

Latin America / Caribbean
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New cooking stoves cut firewood consumption by half
The Ampay Forest Sanctuary, a small protected area on the eastern slopes of the Peruvian southern Andes, shelters one of the few relicts of single native conifer - the "intimpa" (Podocarpus glomeratus).

To protect this tree species, a WWF project is encouraging the propagation of agroforestry species as an alternative source of firewood. It is also promoting the use of improved stoves as a means of reducing consumption of firewood from the Sanctuary and its buffer zone where deforestation has recently caused a catastrophic landslide in which many people died.

The new cooking stoves have cut firewood consumption by more than half as well as having a direct impact on family health (elimination of smoke emissions within the house), economy (cooking time is much shorter and women have more spare time to invest in more productive activities) and quality of life (cooking is more comfortable because women do not have to squat in front of a ring exposed to high temperatures for long hours).

This new model of stove, promoted by IDMA (Instituto de Desarrollo y Medio Ambiente), has now been adopted by national-level projects, government offices, local NGOs and neighbours.