Guwahati, March 21: On the occasion of the International Day of Forests, the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) took a significant step towards improving the quality of life for its frontline forest staff by distributing improved cook stoves across its anti-poaching camps (APCs).

The initiative, supported by the Wildlife Trust of India’s Rapid Action Project, aims to enhance the efficiency of cooking in remote locations while reducing firewood consumption and indoor air pollution.

Kaziranga, home to over 80% of India’s Greater one-horned rhinoceros population, has been a global leader in rhino conservation. The “Kaziranga model”, which emphasizes a dense network of anti-poaching camps, has successfully curbed poaching incidents in recent years. The park currently operates 233 APCs, each covering an average area of 5.82 sq km, one of the highest concentrations of such camps in South Asia and Africa.

However, these camps are often located in remote and flood-prone areas, making access to modern cooking fuels difficult. Most APCs rely on traditional self-made cook stoves, which require time-intensive firewood collection and large storage spaces and contribute to inefficient fuel burning and health hazards from smoke inhalation.

While the Forest Department has been working to improve the LPG cylinder supply, firewood remains a crucial fuel source for many camps due to logistical challenges. In this scenario, introducing an improved cooking stove presents a practical and sustainable solution. These industry-manufactured stoves offer up to 50% reduction in firewood consumption, 80% lower emissions and smoke, shorter cooking times, and decreased firewood storage needs.

As part of the first phase of implementation, the Kaziranga Park Authority, with the Wildlife Trust of India, provided 47 improved cook stoves to 45 APCs and two community kitchens.

The handover ceremony took place between March 16 and 21, 2025, across Kaziranga’s nine ranges, accompanied by training and live demonstration sessions for APC personnel. A post-usage survey, scheduled one month after installation, will assess the stoves’ impact and lay the groundwork for a larger-scale intervention in the future.

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