Forests continue to degrade as communities harvest wood fuels for their household energy needs. Charcoal burning for commercial and domestic use threatens forest resource and continues unabated resulting to increased climate change effects. Use of briquettes can substantially create win win situation for forests and household energy demands

 

INTRODUCTION 

The quality of life for both the rural and urban population across East Africa, like others in the developing world, is difficult by high cost of fuel wood and oil based products (paraffin and gas) used in cooking. For this majority the problem of obtaining fuel wood comes as a secondary priority to obtaining food. The high cost is as a result of unprecedented destruction of forests and bushes that were the traditional source of wood fuel and charcoal. However, fuel briquettes-made by compacting agricultural and commercial waste can be used for cooking is as a viable alternative.

The potential of fuel briquettes

A viable alternative fuel for cooking that is increasingly becoming popular is fuel briquettes made by compacting agricultural and commercial residues such as dried leaves, sugar bagasse , sawdust, scrap paper, and even charcoal dust into a small cake or briquettes. The briquettes can be produced locally using simple hand operated tools. Available estimates indicate that fuel briquettes can reduce the demand for firewood by more than 200,000 kilograms per year, helping to degrease deforestation. A Unique approach to conservation. Fuel briquettes have been successfully utilized in many parts of the world including Malawi, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Peru, Mali, and Kenya. However, there is great need to increase awareness on the value of briquettes as an alternative fuel in East Africa as a means of reducing local dependence on fuel wood and as a tool for teaching the community about forest conservation.

According to the World Bank and the Paris based SEED organization, 1200 grams of wood are burned per person per day in the typical cooking situation in third world countries using the three stone stove. This is equivalent to using 400 kilogram of wood each year to satisfy the energy needs of one person. In contrast, a typical person consumes only 140 kilograms’ worth of fuel briquettes made of agricultural and commercial residues, in one year. Therefore, using fuel briquettes dramatically reduces the strain on forest resources.

Usage of briquettes

Briquettes can be used in almost every application where firewood and charcoal is traditionally used, even in a typical three-stone stove. They are most applicable in areas where access to firewood is limited, such as the arid lands or in densely populated areas. In these areas, fuel briquettes can compete favorably with traditional solid fuel (firewood, charcoal, and cow dung). In Kenya briquette business is becoming popular particularly in the arid lands and other regions adversely affected by deforestation.

Briquettes as a means of protecting Forest

Forests play a vital role in stabilization of soils and ground water, thereby sustaining agricultural activity. Forests also play a crucial role in protection of water catchments an in climate moderation by absorbing greenhouse gases. They also contribute immensely to biological diversity and are a major habitat for wildlife. In the developing world, forests also provide valuable raw materials such as timber and fuel wood.

Advantages and challenges of producing and using briquettes

1.     Recycling of organic waste into fuel briquettes can be an income generating venture, leads to efficient waste disposal and maintenance of environmental aesthetic quality. Enhancing the process of recovery of organic residues can restore various natural cycles, thus preventing the loss of raw materials, energy and nutrients.

2.     Fuel briquettes are regarded as a viable answer to the urgent need for climate –friendly technologies in developing countries. The market prices of briquettes are cheaper than wood fuel and charcoal and they offer greater opportunity for environmental protection and sustainable development due to the following reasons:

a.     Using briquettes made from organic materials and other biological residues helps conserve the vegetation cover in the environment by reducing community reliance on forests.

b.     Briquettes emit little smoke in comparison to other sources of energy for domestic consumption and hence there is reduced pollution.

c.     Briquettes offer a safe and financial way of disposing organic residues and by-products, which would otherwise pollute the environment.

d.     Briquettes offer alternative source of fuel, which is cheap, easily available and accessible; they reduce the long hours community members, especially girls and women, would otherwise spend in search of fuel

Conclusion

Although briquettes are a viable and sustainable alternative to firewood and charcoal, there are several challenges to overcome before development of a successful briquette enterprise. Perhaps the biggest challenge is convincing community members that briquettes can actually replace traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal. The transition from firewood to briquettes can be difficulty, particularly in areas where fuel wood is readily accessible.

World Environment Day, Ending Plastic Pollution

World Environment Day, Ending Plastic Pollution 

June 5^th Kenya will join the rest of the world to commemorate World Environment day. It is annual global social event geared towards creating environmental consciousness. The day brings together millions of volunteers, governments and organizations from 100 countries and territories to tackle global waste crisis and more sustainable waste disposal options. It’s the largest global platform for environmental public outreach. In Kenya, the event will be marked in Tharaka University and will bring together different actors in Environment sector  

The theme for this year World Environment day is Ending Plastic pollution. Plastic pollution remains the most prominent challenge when it comes to solid waste management. The gazette notice of Kenya plastic bag ban notice No. 2356 in 2017 marked great milestone in addressing the plastics pollution menace. However, despite those efforts, plastics bags remain rampart and key component for both rural and urban pollution stress. The stubbornness of plastic bags pollution can be associated with;

Plastics have been used for industrial and household packaging for decades.  Plastic bags availability will have significant impact to the environment in days to come. In industries plastic bags have formed the core of packaging for the household consumable items. Shopping malls, retail shops and supermarkets are the main distributors of the plastics bags to the end users. The growth of this sector can be attributed to their durability, malleability, light in weight and low cost. Its estimated that by 2050 there will be 12000 million tons of plastic waste accumulation if no action is taken.

Non-Biodegradable Nature of Plastics as Soil Contaminants. Once in the soil, plastic eventually breakdown releasing toxic chemicals which affect soil pH. This leads to reduction of soil productivity. According to the interactive soil quality assessment report 2018, more than 80% of plastics found on marine environments are produced, consumed and disposed of in soils. Plastics can also lead to soil infertility by tempering with moisture and nutrition supplies for the crops resulting to reduced yield.

Plastics Damaging the Environment. Plastic are directly associated with numerous dangers to the Environment. Terrestrial and aquatic animals suffer due to presence of plastic in their food chains. Significant deaths of cows are experienced due to consumption of plastic materials that are spread all over their grazing fields. Once an animal swallow’s plastic, it causes intestinal obstruction which leads to slow death.  The poisoning emanates from chemical components making up the plastic. Plastics don’t readily break down while in the animals’ digestive track, this makes the animal feel full and eventually they succumb to malnutrition or starvation.

Clogging of water and sewerage systems. Once deposited to the environment, plastics find their way to the water supply and drainage systems whereby the clog the supply leading to disconnection of utility supplies and pollution. Their removal is costly in both time and monetary value. Sewage blockage escalates to health threat as other diseases associated with poor sewage disposal crops up.

Aesthetic defloration of the Environment. Poorly disposed plastics create unpleasant scenery. They act as breeding ground for disease transmitting insect such as mosquito as water accumulates in the inside. A vast majority of residents both from urban and rural areas would agree that plastic debris ruin the appearance of habitats.

Conclusion

Despite pollution associated with plastics, if well harnessed, they can offer much need job opportunities while reducing climate change associated effects. Through circular economy, plastics have been recycled to provide much needed alternative fencing and furniture to the rescue of our forests.  Clean natural habitats and green spaces help reduce recovery time and improve healing period of hospital patients. Such environment sustains children concentration and focus, either they reduce crime rates. However, if the environments are littered with plastics and other unpleasant debris, these benefits are highly reduced. With right legislative frameworks and governance, plastics has potential to offer much needed solutions to humanity without resultant pollution menace, this is achievable through partnerships and synergy from all stakeholders. 

 

 

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: SURFACE RUNOFF WATER HARVESTING IS KEY TO RESOLVING WATER SHORTAGE

 

Water is life and every effort to harvest, store and efficiently utilize water is worth to be undertaken. Kenya remains a water scarce country making agricultural productivity in many parts of the country unsustainable. The 6^th Sustainable Development Goal is geared towards ensuring access to safe and affordable drinking water. This implies that water provision remains a priority at global arena.

Kenya has been experiencing heavy downpours during the rain seasons and extended dry periods. These phenomenon has resulted to reduced crop production, reduction of livestock pasture and general vegetation decline especially in Arid and Semi-Arid parts of the country. With changing climate, the situation is expected to get worse with time if no action is taken to cushion communities from declining water resource

Water harvesting remain viable solution to water challenges both at households and community levels. Many a time, biggest percentage of rain water is not usable by households and communities due to lack of water harvesting structures and knowhow. This is demonstrated when communities have to travel long distances to fetch water immediately after rains. The painful irony is the factor that the water at the water points is product of surface runoff from their households and farms.

Surface water runoff remain least explored means water harvesting. After rains, huge amounts of water drain in rivers, streams, pathways, roads and at times cause disasters such as loss of lives and destruction of properties. The surface runoff can be utilized with ease and made available for households for domestic and agricultural uses. This can be done through channeling the surface water to water ponds, earth dams, arable lands and other water harvesting structures.

Roof catchments too provide ideal water harvesting avenue, many rural households have access to low cost water tanks and jericans which are mainly used for water harvesting. With right incentives by government, roof catchment offers complementary source to household water availability. The high penetration of plastics tanks and concrete water reservoirs has seen short term water harvesting done targeting domestic water uses while farm ponds remain adorable water harvesting and storage techniques for both domestic and agriculture.

Farm ponds have also proven to be manageable water harvesting option at household level. Many small and marginal farmers have found farm ponds to be ideal solutions to their water struggles. Farm ponds are small in size and thus fit well within these farmers’ land holding size. They are easy to construct and mainly do not require skilled labour, they can be filled by small amounts of rain. Furthermore, since they are individually managed farmers can freely use the harvested water without any competition or conflict. In addition, farm ponds save women and children from walking for miles to find, collect, and carry water for domestic use. Farm ponds can also provide an additional source of income for families by supporting activities like fish rearing and growing vegetables.

At community levels, earth dams and water pans are being excavated to provide large scale water source. Although they have not been much explored by both government and development actors. With right water catchment, earth dams are able to harvest substantial amounts of water which is available for communities during dry seasons. They provide solution to medium scale water needs for livestock, horticulture and household uses. Although susceptible to pollution due to level of exposure, many a time community through their management committees provide much needed leadership and regulatory bylaws which prevent pollution and misuse of the rare commodity.