Environmental research

Forests in Tajikistan play important water and soil conservation function, they protect from floods and provide sanitary and hygiene service to the environment as well. Rational use of the forest resource is substantially important for the country`s development. Historically, forests were managed as cheapest and easiest of the natural resources to be utilized. To the date, the area of forests is reduced to its half. Reduction of clearing and timely rehabilitation measures are vital condition for the forest conservation. In the last years, due to the energy resource shortcomings, there are intensive deforestation takes place in the areas of juniper forests in Shahristan district. The situation is worsened by a popular use of ineffective cooking stoves which are fueled with ration of wood and kyzjaks, the pressed and dried cow dung. As a result, there a big volume of biomass is used for a daily energy use (for water boiling and cooking meals). The project aim is to protect forests by mean of introduction of energy saving technologies in to the community practices of poor households in Shahriston district. To achieve the goal it is necessary to support the intervention and adaptation of sustainable energy efficient practices like energy efficient stoves, modified traditional cook stoves, heat exchanging devices, solar appliances, and organizing the groups which are interested in joined bread baking practice. It is also beneficial when people are provided with opportunity to become training on production and use of such equipment as well as other energy efficient technologies (thermo- isolating of wall and ceiling, hermetization of windows, processing of the traditional fuels in the more efficient forms). Elaboration and distribution of informational and educational materials (brochures and booklets) among the wider population range is important as well. Project objectives: 1. Solving of the organizational issues and selection of pilot households in the jamoats of Shakhristan and Jangikurgan. 2. Organizing and conducting of workshops on production and use of the energy efficient stoves, modified traditional cook stoves (otashdons). Also present and demonstrate some other energy efficient measures, like heat exchanger boxes, solar parabolic stoves, briquetting of residual coal dust, forming of groups for joined bread baking practices in modified bread ovens. 3. Identifying 28 local community leading households and involving them in the demonstration activity and propaganda of the energy efficient techniques.. 4. Implementing forest rehabilitation and preservation activity by means of replanting of native forest plant species and planting of (fire-) wood tree species in the populated area. 5. Promotion of projects sustainability and a wider use of energy efficiency techniques in the rural households through involvement of men and women volunteers.

Tajikistan