Winner 2011

Climate-smart development in Georgia

Promoting good practice on climate change mitigation, adaptation and disaster risk reduction

2011ACT Alliance

ClimateAward

Church World Service

The winning projectThis Church World Service (CWS) project addresses the energy demands of rural households in the Chokotauri and Khobi districts of Georgia. Most families use firewood for cooking and heating which causes widespread land degradation. Two alternatives are promoted by the project: • Fuel-briquettes made from agricultural residues; and • Renewable fuels from laurel trees.

In addition, the project promotes solar water heating and fruit drying devices as well as reforestation with a wide variety of tree species. The project is carried out in cooperation with two local partners - Women in Europe for a Common Future and the Rural Community Development Agency.

Georgia: Environment under threatRural Georgia is badly affected by poverty, high rates of unemployment, and food insecurity. In some areas, as many as three-quarters of the population are unemployed; the average yearly income in some areas equates to only US$450.Community members and women in particular, lack the financial resources to be able to engage in sustainable livelihoods. Deforestation, uncontrolled use of wood resources, decreased soil quality, and ever-poorer crop production are all felt and experienced directly in everyday life. These problems also have negative effects on the environment – increasing the risk of natural disasters such as erosion, landslides, mudflows and avalanches.

Renewable energyNew and innovative renewable energy sources are being used that have been wasted or ignored in the past. This preserves the existing flora so that it continually captures and stores carbon dioxide while counteracting on-going land degradation processes which threaten food and water security and jeopardises the livelihood of future generations. Indeed the project aims to highlight how communities can effectively manage natural resources.The project also presents examples on how to combine climate change adaptation and mitigation work with creating new sources of income and employment. By doing so it fosters economic development while combating negative effects of climate change.

Solving the problemThe CWS programme focuses on four approaches to help affected communities to deal with these challenges:

1. Providing an alternative to cutting down trees for wood for heating and cooking

by promoting and building briquette machines to produce fuel-briquettes from agricultural residues. Also the construction and promotion of a device for the destructive distillation of laurel tree off-cutsTo decrease firewood consumption the project is promoting construction and installation of briquette machines for production of fuel-briquettes from agricultural residues. Briquette-making exemplifies the potential of appropriate technology. It saves trees and prevents problems such as soil erosion and desertification by providing

an alternative to burning wood for heating and cooking. It substitutes agricultural waste like hulls, husks, corn stocks, grass, leaves, food and animal garbage for a valuable resource. It improves health by providing a cleaner burning fuel. The briquettes are also designed for holding, growing and protecting seedlings. As well as creating these benefits, briquettes generate many micro-enterprise opportunities. These include making the presses from locally available materials, supplying materials and making the briquettes, as well as selling and delivering the briquettes. The area is rich in laurel tree plantations that are mostly grown in private farms; these generate significant incomes for households. The amount of laurel leaves produced for sale averages 4,500 tons per year, resulting in 15,000-17,000 tons of off-cuts as a by-product. This biomass by-product can be converted into useful energy through the construction and use of destructive distillation devices. Through this process the biomass can be converted into charcoal, oils and gases for household energy needs.

2. Supporting communities to use renewable energy resources by building solar

water heaters and solar dryers for fruits and vegetables Communities will be helped to obtain and adapt to local conditions affordable solar technology applications to enhance energy security. This includes active and passive solar water heating systems, as well as solar dryers for fruit and vegetables. Domestic solar heating and solar dryers

Looking to the futureA significant, additional effort is made to ensure sustainability. Small businesses are established to build solar water collectors, solar dryers for fruits and vegetables, and the production of fuel briquettes from biomass residues.

have great potential to alleviate poverty in the rural population, especially in remote areas. The systems and measures promoted by the project are designed so that local craftsmen can apply them using local materials, and that households with lower incomes can afford them.

3. Supporting affected communities in decreasing environmental degradation

through reforestation and crop rotationEmphasis was placed on fast-growing, multipurpose species that can serve an array of uses while also serving as barriers to minimise land erosion and establish rapid wind-breaks. Some of the species used are alder, hazel, poplar and linden. In addition, crop rotation practices are being introduced to maintain constant ground cover and decrease soil erosion.

4. Building awareness and capacities in local communities to reduce climate change

risks, use renewable energy sources and generate much-needed income Activities involve organising regional and community meetings to introduce the project, involve stakeholders and collect suggestions. Meetings are convened on environmental protection, climate change and alternative eco-friendly technologies.

Achievements so far...The project started in April 2010. Already 3,200 fast-growing, multipurpose species of trees have been planted on eroded land. Two demonstration crop-rotation fields are organised on plots a quarter of a hectare in size, where local community members learn about the use of crop-rotation technologies to prevent soil erosion and undergo on-site trainings. Five solar water collectors have been built with the help of community members and installed, seven solar fruit and vegetable dryers have been set up, and community households are using them to dry fruits and herbs. Four briquette machines have been constructed and community households have started production of fuel-briquettes from agricultural residues.

The destructive distillation machine has been tested at a demonstration and technology center and is approved for

use. Three small community-based businesses have been set up and are being maintained by local households.

The businesses build solar collectors, solar dryers and briquette machines. Water, eco-sanitation and renewable energy resource centers have been established to consult, train and demonstrate the practical application of renewable energy and efficient energy systems at the community level.

For details about this project, please contact:CWS - Steve Weaver, sweaver@churchworldservice.org

Photos by ACT/CWS/Rural Community Development in Georgia

This annual award is an initiative of the ACT Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group.

ACT is an alliance of over 110 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance, advocacy and development in over 140 countries around the world.

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