On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Tanzania's bustling port city of Dar es Salaam, a group of dedicated women took on a mission to protect their nation's forests. Under the scorching sun, they gathered coconut shells, dried banana peels, and cassava stalks, transforming what many consider waste into a valuable resource.
These resourceful women are recycling plant waste, turning it into alternative charcoal. This innovative approach not only provides sustainable energy solutions but also addresses the pressing issue of deforestation.
\"Our main mission in making charcoal by recycling coconut shells, dried banana peels, and dried cassava stalks is to save the forests from further degradation caused by making charcoal,\" said Warda Omary Sera. \"It discourages the use of charcoal made from forests that cause deforestation, which is harmful to our environment.\"
The Tanzania Forest Services Agency reports that the nation loses 469,420 hectares of forest annually due to the production of charcoal and firewood. By adopting alternative charcoal sources, these women are playing a crucial role in mitigating environmental degradation and promoting sustainable practices.
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Tanzanian women save forests by turning plant waste into charcoal
cgtn.com
