Despite the significant diversification in
livelihoods, land uses and enterprises practised around the
MMNR
in recent years, the majority of community members
still depend directly on the ecosystem’s natural
resources
to meet their livelihood needs. One of the natural
resources in most demand is fuelwood and
charcoal
for cooking and boiling water. Demand for fuelwood
and charcoal has contributed to deforestation
and
habitat degradation in the wider ecosystem, and
resulted in a rapidly diminishing supply to meet
community
needs. As a result, the search for fuel takes up a
growing proportion of community members’ time,
which
could otherwise be used in more economically
productive activities. Some progress has already been
made
towards addressing this issue, as illustrated by
the construction of a biogas plant in a village near Mara
Rianta
(funded by Musiara Ltd). This biogas plant uses
the dung of cattle and goats to fuel the production of
methane
gas, which is then piped to around forty houses.
Under this management action, MMNR management
will support or initiate similar efforts to
improve the sustainable supply of energy to local residents,
either
through the replication of the biogas project, or
through the use of other potential sustainable fuel
sources,
such as the use of cow dung jikos. In addition,
managers will work will tourism facility operators to
promote
the establishment of fuelwood lots, which can then
be used by both the facilities themselves for
atmospheric
campfires, and by communities to meet their
livelihood requirements.
