Protecting rainforests at the flick of a switch

Five rainforest villages in Cameroon have decreased the number of trees that they need to fell by 85% thanks to the Centre for Community Regeneration and Development (CCREAD) and Cool Earth’s solar-powered initiatives.

Life in the rainforest means living without basic infrastructure, including electricity. With no alternatives, communities rely on weekly tree-cutting for survival, using small fires for light, cooking, and warmth.

This has changed, however, thanks to the partnership between CCREAD and the charity Cool Earth. “Electricity means the day no longer ends when the sun sets at 6pm. Solar power means families have light to play, study, and spend quality time together after dark,” explains Hilary Ngide, CCREAD’s executive director. “We’ve recorded that, because of solar (power), families no longer need to chop down trees for firewood and as a result 1,080 trees remain standing strong, keeping the rainforest intact, storing carbon, and continuing to help protect our planet from the impacts of climate change.”

Today, solar panels power households, schools, and health centres. A flick of a switch now lights up entire rooms, making firewood almost unnecessary. And while some tree cutting remains part of rainforest life, communities with solar power have reduced their tree use from 21 to just three trees per month. “Imagine how many more trees could remain standing if we could light up every rainforest community,” Ngide emphasises.