Kenya's education sector alone consumes an alarming 10 million trees annually, highlighting the severe impact on local forests and biodiversity. Across the region, approximately 90 percent of public schools rely on firewood, making them significant contributors to deforestation. According to Nature Kenya, a single school can clear up to 56 acres of forest each year to sustain its cooking needs.
The use of firewood by schools contributes significantly to deforestation, with the high demand leading to substantial forest cover loss annually. Uganda's forests are being depleted at an alarming rate of 2.6 percent per year, one of the highest rates globally, posing a severe threat to the country's forest cover over the next few decades according to Energy4Impact.Several initiatives across East Africa, spearheaded by development partners, NGOs, the private sector, and government agencies, aim to promote clean cooking technologies in both public and private educational institutions.
The implementation phase includes installing and integrating clean cooking technologies, with a focus on ensuring proper maintenance and monitoring of performance. Finally, schools should regularly evaluate the impact of these technologies on cost savings, environmental sustainability, and educational outcomes.
Source: Nation
Photo from Africa Children's fund