How Energy-Saving Stoves are reducing pressure on Kasyoha-Kitomi forest

In the communities surrounding Kasyoha-Kitomi Central Forest Reserve, the daily need for firewood has long been a major driver of forest degradation. For many households, especially in rural areas, cooking depends heavily on biomass fuel, placing immense pressure on nearby forest resources.

Traditional three-stone cooking stoves are widely used but highly inefficient, consuming large amounts of firewood and contributing to forest degradation. Energy-saving stoves offer a more efficient alternative, using significantly less fuel while reducing cooking time and smoke emissions which previously affected women and children.

A constructed energy saving stove

To address this challenge, NatureUganda, through the People Partner with Nature programme, has supported the distribution of over 900 energy-saving stoves (ESS) and facilitated the construction of more than 700 additional stoves within local communities. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote sustainable resource use while improving household livelihoods.

Providing stoves is only one part of the solution. NatureUganda has also invested in community sensitization to encourage consistent and proper use of energy-saving technologies. In many households, there is a gradual shift from reliance on traditional three-stone fires to more efficient cooking methods. However, continued engagement is essential to ensure that energy-saving stoves are used as primary cooking solutions rather than as supplementary options.

The success of the energy-saving stove initiative is closely linked to strong community involvement under the Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) framework. Early observations indicate a noticeable decline in the frequency of firewood collection among participating households perhaps to half.

Kajoina Annet, a member of a CFM group and beneficiary of the programme, notes that “Firewood collection and use in my household has reduced by more than 50%, and even after cooking, the stove continues to retain heat.”

Through CFM, communities living adjacent to the forest are not just beneficiaries but active stewards of conservation. Their role extends far beyond adopting alternative energy solutions.

Policy brief on Energy Saving Stoves (PDF)