Enviro-Solutions aims to build a community-based biochar production centre in Nepal, enabling locals to utilise farm waste stubbles, forest leaf litter, and dead wood debris. Our project proposes to reduce stubble burning and minimise wildfires by converting these materials into biochar.
Enviro-Solutions
The alarming surge in CO2 emissions due to wildfires and stubble burnings has reached unprecedented levels. In 2021 alone, 1.76 billion tons of CO2 were emitted, marking a 150% surge compared to the average annual emissions during 2000-2020. This surge not only exacerbates environmental concerns but intensifies socio-economic stress esp. in LDCs. Efforts to suppress wildfires are impeded, urging for sustainable solutions. As such, these emissions jeopardise human health, biodiversity and ecosystems except for contributing to greenhouse effect and climate instability. Moreover, the disproportionate impact on LDCs aggravates existing vulnerabilities, hindering sustainable development progress and perpetuating socio-economic disparities.
To address the conundrum, a community awareness program should be launched first to disseminate the effectiveness and sustainable use of biochar. Secondly, a biochar production network must be developed in collaboration with local farmers, forestry agencies, and environmental organisations through a Public-Private Partnership model. Lastly, community-led biochar production centres should be established to process forestry and agricultural residues, effectively mitigating GHG emissions.
Biochar production centres bring instant benefits by decreasing GHG emissions from forests and farms, improving soil water and nutrient retention for increased crop yields, and boosting households’ income. Over time, these centres expedite climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation, enhance productivity and food security, bolster community resilience, eliminate chemical fertilisers, promote sustainable practices, and foster socioeconomic and environmental synergies for sustainable development.
In our quest for emerging ideas, we often overlook the importance of executing existing ones in innovative ways to articulate sustainability, i.e., economic viability, environmental soundness, and social acceptability.
This project focuses on reducing emissions from stubble burning and wildfires by utilising forest debris and stubble to produce biochar. Situating the plant near forests and farms minimises raw material costs and transportation distances. Leveraging local communities also safeguards social inclusivity, making the project eco-friendly and socially profound.
