PUNTLAND STATE OF SOMALIA
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Ref MW/DPS/safar/29006 Bosaso Thursday, April 20, 2006
TO: NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES IN PUNTLAND
Subj: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND REDUCING CHARCOAL USE
During the recent period of civil conflict, Somalia has faced many challenges. We have had some success in dealing with some issues and are moving forward towards more stable governance. One of the most fundamental challenges to the Somali way of life has been the devastation of our natural environment by the uncontrolled charcoal production. Mass cutting of trees and shrubs, including ancient acacia trees had resulted in the lost of grazing land necessary to maintain our animals and our people. The current drought has increased this ongoing fundamental challenge that we face.
As President of Puntland, I realize that our government must work on long term political solutions to the charcoal trade. We are involved in this issue and in working on sound management of our fragile environment.
One very important part of an overall environmental management approach is to offer alternatives to charcoal for household and businesses for their daily cooking needs.
We are pleased to note the work of Sun fire cooking, a Somali non profit co, which importing and distributing a sturdy and efficient solar cooker. Sun Fire Cooking has distributed over 1000 butterfly-design solar cookers in the towns of Bosaso and throughout the tsunami-affected district of Bander Beyla.
Yours faithfully
Mohamud Muse Hirse President of Puntland State .
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Below: President Muse listend to an explanation by Fatima Jibrell about the advantages of solar cooking.
Return to the home page of Sun Fire Cooking