Eco-ovens in Peru

A new environmental project to introduce 105 eco-friendly ovens (ecofogóns) into five river-based communities in the Amazon region of Peru has been initiated by BMS mission workers Harland Rivas and Gill Thurgood (pictured right with their children) in partnership with evangelical churches in the region.

Ecofogóns replace traditional methods of cooking on an open fire (see left) and reduce the amount of firewood used in cooking by 50 per cent.

They also improve the speed of cooking and can heat three saucepans at once.

This is the first of four grassroot initiatives supported by a new BMS Eco Challenge Fund project, and comes directly as a result of BMS carbon offsetting staff travel worldwide. Find out more about this on our FutureShape? pages and read about our other eco-projects project in Chad, Brazil & Latin America.

The project is part of a larger programme that will teach creation care in a rural pastors’ centre in Nauta, near Iquitos. (Photo: Harland talks with a village chief)

As well as reducing deforestation in the region, and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, the ovens also reduce smoke-related illnesses.

A new ecofogón in action

Other health benefits include the prevention of back problems as the stoves are raised from the ground to waist level.

Considering that the Peruvian Amazon has over 4,000 rural communities, this project has the potential to make a considerable impact on the global environment.