OneWorld.net (U.S.)

In 1973, there were around 70,000 people living around the Ranthambore National Park in south-eastern Rajasthan. Today, that number has increased to over 200,000. This tremendous growth has led to a dwindling tiger population, thanks to rampant poaching and habitat destruction, aggravated by the increasing demand for fuel-wood. Realising that this park versus people conflict would ultimately result in the destruction of both the tiger and Ranthambore, the Sawai Madhopur based Prakratik Society has been working to protect Ranthambore's dry deciduous forests from the pressures of an ever-increasing population. Providing local villagers with biogas digesters for cooking has been an important contribution of the organisation in this direction. The digester uses cowdung as a raw material. It not only produces gas for cooking but also provides organic fertiliser in the form of slurry, a better and cheaper alternative to commercial fertilisers. In fact, its use has resulted in an increase in crop yield by approximately 25 per cent. So far, the society has installed 225 biogas plants and over 1,350 villagers are currently using this technology. A number of residents are also employed in the construction and maintenance of these biogas plants. Biogas digesters offer various benefits. They save around 1,500 metric tonnes of fuel-wood, which contributes towards saving natural habitats as well as their animal and plant populations. The use of biogas also has a positive effect on the health of women, as it reduces their exposure to kitchen smoke.