Environmental research

The project aims at mitigation of climate change with the strategies of providing training techniques to teachers and farmers. Project beneficiaries can get the knowledge to implement for i) effective forest protection and management of trees that is useful for reducing carbon from atmosphere and providing shadow, firewood, compost, bio-extract fertilizer, regular raining, disaster protection and reducing heat from the sun; ii) making Samaki and the palm sugar stoves improve cook stoves that help to reduce the amount of using firewood and smoke that doesn t affect to family member health, saving money from buying more firewood and the heat of sun. One Samaki improve cook stove can reduce 0.5 tone carbon a year; and one palm sugar stove can reduce 3 tones carbon a year; and iii) organize 14 Self-groups to produce Samaki improve cook stove for sell in the target areas for improve local livelihood improvement. There are three main activities and a smaller fourth one; First improved cook stove building and technical designing, second tree planting, third Saving group activity and capacity building, and fourth formation of an association for selling the cook stove which is a small business activity. All four activities are equally important and linked to each other having impacts on the environment and livelihoods of the people. But the impact on livelihood is bigger because the cook stove activity is working very well and a lot of people want to learn about this. The impact on environment is remarkable but less because three planting has less influence. But then again the tree planting has a long term influence on the environment same goes for the CO2 reduction by the stoves. The villagers are motivated to participate in the improved cook stove activity because they get a direct benefit out of it. Concerning the tree planting they want fruit trees so that they can use the fruits. Only monks and the schools want the trees for a nice view, for firewood, and shadow. The staff was provided by 15 days of training so that they can give their knowledge to the villagers and members of the project. No external help was needed only for the carbon emission calculation GERES provided the training. Project intervention: New innovations are provided by DKC especially by the director who is constantly trying to develop new cook stoves. He already invented a lighter version an three other versions of the improved cook stoves and only testing needs to be done before they can be implemented. The technology used for the improved cook stoves makes them much more performing in terms of stability, carbon emission reduction, easy to built so that everyone can built them and use them. The improved cook stoves lasts around 6 years and waste (leafs, paper etc.) can be used instead of firewood. Concerning the carbon emissions a tree of 1 year will absorb 3kg of CO2 per year. The improved cook stoves will reduce 500kg of carbon per year and 1732 stoves are built so they will improve the carbon emissions by 876 tons a year. Reduction of firewood: old stoves (1732) used 3026m3 per year of firewood and the improved cook stoves (1732) 2118m3 per year, total reduction of 908m3 per year. So the villagers save on firewood, material is provided by the villages resources, health is protected and they can cook quicker. Fruit trees are mostly planted by individuals who can get benefice out of them. The luxury trees are planted around schools and pagodas so that the monks and students can take care of the trees. There are 12 places where the stoves are sold. Here around 3-5 families come together to manage the small businesses. The handicraft center is still in production process. The main clients are people from different provinces passing through and buying the stoves. The production cost and selling cost vary from one place to another. Due to this new source of income people can stay in their village instead of leaving for Phnom Penh to get work. Farmers can just build the stoves during their free time. DKC is very happy with the result and encouraging more people to participate. Concerning the saving groups there are a total of 14 with 19 members per group. Each member saves between 3k-30k riel a month. The system is very simple and everyone can participate, no criteria of selection. Members can borrow money up to 200k with 2% interest and use it for their own business and farming. In case of an emergency the members have the policy of helping each other. Expected outcomes in the timeframe of 24 months: 27,000 trees are planted in Kagn Chriech, Prey Veng Province. 1,080 Samaki stoves and 48 palm sugar stoves are produced in Kagn Chriech district, Prey Veng Province. 74544.85 riels are borrowed by members of save groups to make small businesses including 2 % of interest (12 Samaki stove groups). 42134, 58 riels are borrowed by each member of save groups to make small businesses including 2% of interest (24 families a group). Sell-network of group can make a profit of 12,960,000 riels to make their living.

Cambodia