Until recently, citizens living around Kibale National Park in Uganda obtained most of their fire wood from the small forest fragments surrounding the park. As the population increased, this harvest became unsustainable, and almost all of the forests outside of the park are now gone. As even small scale logging for fire wood has been proven to be extremely detrimental to numerous plant and animal species, an alternative is immediately needed. (more about the fuel wood crisis here)

It has recently become legal to collect fire wood in the park, though collection is supposed to be limited to non-native species of trees that were planted in the 1960s. Most of these trees have already been harvested, however, and it is almost impossible to control what is now being cut in the park.

Carrying home bits and pieces of the rainforest. An average family in our target areas uses about this much wood each day for cooking. Introduction of more fuel efficient stoves will not only help save Kibale, but also save citizens time, energy and money. (these photos courtesy of Annie Musselman)

This is Sesbania sesban, the fast growing, indigenous, nitrorgen-fixing tree promoted by the project. It has been planted in a space-saving border design around a garden. Increased cultivation of this and other fast growing trees could save Kibale.