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Reduction in Firewood Consumption due to Implementation of Improved Cookstoves in Melghat Tiger Reserve, India

According to the 2001 Census of India, around 82% of the rural population of India depends entirely on biomass and uses primitive cookstoves for cooking. The smoke released due to incomplete combustion causes several chronic respiratory disorders among women responsible for cooking. Despite these adverse effects, people continue to use traditional cookstoves due to their simplicity. Firewood consumption is also responsible for the degradation of forests and the emission of CO2, which is a major greenhouse gas. A project was implemented by Wildlife Research and Conservation Society in 12 villages in Melghat Tiger Reserve to introduce improved cook stoves in 1,098 households for reducing firewood consumption and smoke emission. This study estimated that the improved cookstoves (ICS) had reduced the average per capita firewood consumption by 0.61 kg/day (25%) and resulted in the conservation of 1,171 tons of firewood annually. A decrease of 1,953 tons of CO2 emissions due to the installation of ICS has been estimated. Installation of ICS reduced the time taken to cook a meal by an average of 40 minutes and reduced smoke production, thereby contributing to the health of the users.