1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Qinghai Provincial Forestry Bureau - China

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Solar stoves use solar energy for cooking, featuring environmental-friendly, zero pollution, low cost, easy operation and maintenance, safe and convenient use, saving firewood, etc. To operate the stove, adjust condenser aiming at the sun with the spot on stove or other objects to be heated.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Qinghai has high elevation, with intense and long sunshine to suit dissemination of the technology to compensate for the shortage of fuel in the countryside, effectively reducing the labor in wood/grass cutting and vegetation destruction, protecting the environment and promoting soil degradation control. Therefore the technology has significant ecological and social benefits.
Restrictions in use: it can only be operated when sunlight is available; operation requires manual adjustment of aim from time to time (lack of sunlight auto-tracking technology application) resulting in an operative time efficiency of about 40%. Solar stove dissemination is financed by the government with labor input by farmers and herdsmen. International financial aid is utilized as an effective incentive for implementation. Publicity and demonstration were conducted to attract more families to use solar stoves. Farmers are the users and beneficiaries so that training to them on operation and maintenance should be conducted.
In 2005, the solar stove dissemination started and so far 150 units have been in operation representing 28% of total demonstration households. Satisfactory results have been achieved. At present, Qinghai provincial government provides special financial support to the dissemination of solar stove extension so the technology application has a bright prospect.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

Aims of the approach are to: - form the technology dissemination mechanism that integrates related organizations; - carry out environmental awareness education and raise community participation level; - develop technical training to raise the community's capability in ecological protection; - use alternative energy to solve the rural fuel insufficiency problem and to alleviate the pressure on the environment; - Protect and increase vegetation cover and improve ecological conditions
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: - lack of fuel and firewood cutting damage vegetations in the rural area; - serious soil and water erosion ; - topsoil losses; - decline of soil fertility.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	external support	Accept education of solar energy technology
planning	interactive	The participatory planning on solar stove extension
implementation	external support	Use and disseminate solar stoves
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Monitoring and evaluation of the solar stove application
Research	none

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Explain:

experts of rural new energy use/ecological protection experts /project implementation organizer/ government poverty reduction office

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• demonstration areas

Subjects covered:

The training includes solar stove installation, operation and maintenance is conducted in form of site demonstration; The effect of training to households especially the training to woman is acceptable.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• financial

Give further details:

Application of the technology changes the villager's energy consumption manner, with decreased expenditure and increased income. Therefore it is helpful for poverty reduction and environmental protection. The extension also promoted the capacity building of local forestry organizations.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were monitored through measurements; indicators: Site measure the light application time and illumination intensity
technical aspects were monitored through measurements; indicators: Hours of soalr stove use (the use rate). Estimate the quantity of firewood saving.
socio-cultural aspects were monitored through measurements; indicators: Survey the villagers acceptance to the technology and comments from women
economic / production aspects were monitored through measurements; indicators: Calculate the economic value equivalent to standard coal.
area treated aspects were monitored through measurements; indicators: Survey the number of household users
management of Approach aspects were monitored through measurements; indicators: Survey regularly the household users, monitor and evaluate their feedback information
There were changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: Adopt the participatory type and not the administrative type of extension approach.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• technology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Undertaken by the solar research institutions and on the topics of solar stove automatic tracking, energy storage, new building materials, raising utilization efficiency etc.

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government: 90.0%; local community / land user(s): 10.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

Comments:

labor of transportation of solar stove is solved by farmer households.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The top-down extension is effective (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: raise the capacity of the governmental organization )
farmers further spread the technology among themselves by observation and visits (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: enhance the training and extension)
farmers benefit through reduced expenditure in energy (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: use meanwhile other clean energy forms)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
backward economy affect the extension speed	strengthen project support
sole financing channel for the technology	form co-financing arrangement of government, individuals and international donors

7.1 Methods/ sources of information