This project is aimed at distributing solar products to communities as they engage in tree planting and forest conservation.A rural community around Eburru forest, Naivasha is the target.The program will help increase forest cover, increase on-farm wood lots for the community members and enhance forest conservation. Solar lighting will enable beneficiaries have access to affordable and sustainable energy forms and reduce reliance on kerosene which has negative effects on health.
Energy in Kenya has been a major challenge with over 80% of Kenya's population relying on kerosene and fuelwood for their lighting and cooking needs respectively.With forms of energy such as electricity and gas being expensive, it has meant that most of them especially in the rural areas cannot afford to buy them thus continue their reliance on kerosene use which has adverse health effects. Efforts at solar uptake have not been very successful due to the high prohibitive initial costs involved.
Tree planting in the forest through the setting up of nurseries will increase the forest cover which has been greatly falling and help in conservation efforts.Solar lighting will enable beneficiaries have light at night for productive activities such as reading amongst others. They will also have wood lots on their own farms. The tree planting initiative is envisioned to inculcate a tree planting and conservation culture amongst the community.
In the long term communities will continue engaging proactively in forest conservation and management on one hand. On the other hand they will have individual woodlots from which they can get fuelwood. There will be reduced health complications resulting from kerosene use as well as saved income which would have gone to buying kerosene. Improved performance by school going children who will benefit from increased reading hours using solar lighting will also result.
