Climate Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

The purpose of our Project is maintaining and strengthening biodiversity and forest ecosystem services provided by the forest (CO2 storage, water filtration, soil retention, population well-being, etc.) over the long term and focuses on preserving and strengthening biodiversity. Founded in 2017 and started operations in 2018, Powerstove transformed from clean cookstove company to a full-fledged clean energy company that supports bio-diversity and sustainable livelihood. After we observed that forest dependent households must be engaged and economically empowered to ensure lasting project sustainability. Hence we decided to provide each household a clean cookstove, bio-pellets and tree seedlings. 
By planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested, our reforestation Project helps the environment by guaranteeing, or accelerating the re-establishment of healthy forest structure by re-growing the forest canopy and preserving biodiversity within the ecosystem. Also, by planting the right species, our reforestation helps makes our forests more resilient to future challenges like climate change and by holding the soil in place with their roots and by reducing rainfall impact with their foliage, these trees also prevent soil erosion. And because they provide a natural habitat to many species, they will help us to boost biodiversity in areas where it has declined.

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In Africa, Asia, and Latin America, for someone who is poor and owns forested land, carbon offsets give a financial incentive not to cut down trees for cooking or charcoal business. For the past 18 months, Powerstove has built the infrastructure to support functioning carbon markets by providing vital transparency and accountability around how carbon credits are issued and transacted. Powerstove has successfully used carbon credits (offsets) to distribute clean cookstoves at scale to African poor and disadvantaged families, empower communities, uplift and enhanced beneficiaries’ livelihoods by paying over 15,000 users more than $630,000 directly, and making carbon removal irrefutable, which is accelerating carbon neutrality and negativity.

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Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

We empower women as Project enablers that emerge as clean energy entrepreneurs and climate change leaders in their communities. These trained women are called Powerstove Ambassadors and they are involved in propagating reforestation, agroforestry and green practices in sustainable forest management, adoption of wood pellets for clean cooking practices by purchasing and adopting renewable energy solutions provided by Powerstove.
Powerstove also provides employment to socially disadvantaged women who were previously unemployed and experienced difficulties in finding work hence giving them a decent income that improved their social standing. Women with very different cultural and social backgrounds are involved in the day-to-day running of our business, which fosters the creation of fruitful human relationships with women who have experienced similar and difficult experiences.
The women ambassadors program led to the creation of 47 Self-Help Groups with 510 women members on 18 satellite communities that promote agroforestry, sale and distribute clean cookstove and bio-pellets and earns an income based on a fix monthly salary and commission structure. A total of 260 women ambassadors learned how to plant and nurture economic trees, assemble, market, sell and distribute (sometimes repair too) Powerstove clean energy products.
These Ambassadors helps to make clean energy products accessible to people living in their communities, which helps cut greenhouse gas emissions, protect deforestation and degradation. 
For the climate vulnerable communities, our community education is a good way to begin community engagement through flyer or leaflet. The leaflet mentions the benefits of trees, agroforestry, the socio-economic and environmental harm caused by land clearing, and the roles and duties of citizens to protect the environment. We present the information in the form of pictures as much as possible and keep the written explanations short. Before printing, we test the leaflet by checking that people understand it. 
Capacity building remains an on-going priority at all Powerstove planting sites. Field leaders, planters and staff members are continuously participating in capacity building training and skill development. Both genders are provided equal opportunity to further develop their field and technical skills to help lead the project and train others to succeed. 
Powerstove Employ-2-Plant methodology works by employing the local community to reforest their environment, addressing one of the leading causes of deforestation. All too often, poor families are forced to cut down their forests in order to produce marketable goods to feed their families. By removing this need and providing a source of reliable income, these families can then meet their primary needs and prepare for the future. By empowering the villagers through fair wages and employment, Powerstove has seen an increase in educational opportunities for the children; increased micro enterprises and an increase in women empowerment and leadership. 
By working directly with the local community, Powerstove ensures that they feel a sense of commitment and build a relationship to their environment. Through employment, the need to cut down the forest and trees is eliminated which therefore allows the community to focus on restoring their environment while still being able to earn a livable wage.