Annual Review 2013 - (Page 19)

Changing lives Big problems can have simple solutions - as WWF projects around the world are proving Some 2.7 billion people depend on wood fuel for cooking and heating: overharvesting of wood for fuel is one of the leading causes of forest degradation, contributing to habitat loss and climate change. Around 1.3 billion people have no reliable electricity supply, hampering their hopes of an education and a decent livelihood. But clean, renewable energy can transform people's lives, while reducing their impact on the environment. STREAM POWER A MICRO-HYDRO GENERATOR POWERS MORE THAN 100 HOUSEHOLDS Also in Nepal's Terai Arc, we've installed micro-hydroelectricity systems, which use water from a stream to run a generator. One such scheme near the village of Chaurikharka supplies more than 100 households in six villages with power for stoves, microwaves, rice cookers, fridges and room heaters. It's saving hundreds of tonnes of fuel wood, reducing carbon emissions and indoor pollution, and improving people's lives. At the other end of the scale, large hydropower dams in the wrong places can be disastrous for people and nature. In places like the Amazon and the Mekong, we're promoting tools to minimize the impact of hydropower developments. CHARCOAL FOR FORESTS Along with oil exploration (see page 10), charcoal production is one of the biggest threats to Virunga National Park in DRC. Wood is the main source of energy in DRC, and demand has risen massively in recent years. Our Ecomakala project supports people living around the park to grow fast-growing trees as an alternative source of charcoal. To date, they have reforested more than 6,000 hectares, taking pressure off the park and giving local growers a sustainable source of income. Meanwhile in the nearby city of Goma, we're training local businesses to build woodstoves that halve the amount of charcoal needed. This means a big saving for poor households, and further reduces the pressure on Virunga's forests. Since 2007, 45,000 low-cost stoves have been sold. SOLAR EMPOWERMENT Seven Madagascan women are bringing clean electricity to their villages after training as solar engineers PLAY SLIDE SHOW In the forests of Madagascar, far from any mainstream electricity grid, seven women are bringing solar electricity to 390 households in their home villages. Before, these homes either had no power at all or ran on expensive, polluting fuels like kerosene and diesel or old batteries. Now villagers save time and money, and children can do their schoolwork in the evenings. The seven are among more than 300 women, mostly grandmothers, who've already taken part in the Solar Engineer programme at India's Barefoot College, in conjunction with WWF. By demonstrating the benefits of solar power and sharing their knowledge with others, they're helping more communities to become sustainable and self-sufficient. Meanwhile among the dense mangroves of the Sundarbans in India, WWF has helped villagers set up their own community-owned solar power station. As well as dramatically improving people's living standards, solar streetlights are successfully keeping tigers out of the villages around the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve. This can be an effective way of eliminating human-wildlife conflicts - a major challenge in remote places where people live close to large and dangerous animals. WWF-INT Annual Review 2013 page 19

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Annual Review 2013