This project helped the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia establish a firewood business to create income generating job opportunities in the village of Gibeon. Through Integrated Water Resource Management, a community group harvested the invasive plant species Prosopis in an effort to decrease detrimental environmental impacts and improve local livelihoods. Exploring the feasibility of the initiative and the market potential for firewood in and around Gibeon led to production optimization strategies and the identification of two major market possibilities. With proper training, employee distribution, and marketing, the business could be viable, but many variable costs and necessary resources require further examination to determine long-term sustainability.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ciulla, Jessie Marie
• Clark, Ryan Christopher
• Beisswanger, Kelly Marie
• Mendoza Cabral, Raquel

Subject

• Water
• Environment
• Industry
• Sustainability

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050815-100028

Keyword

• Sustainable development--Social aspects
• Sustainability
• Introduced organisms
• Entrepreneurship

Advisor

• Robertson, Thomas B.
• Ault, Holly Keyes

Year

• 2015

Center

• Windhoek, Namibia Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Desert Research Foundation of Namibia

Date created

• 2015-05-08

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-02-04