Solving two problems with one stove
Monarch butterfly numbers are plummeting due to deforestation while local indigenous communities suffer from illnesses. Our stoves provide a solution.
The oyamel fir trees in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provide critical shelter and warmth for butterflies every winter. As wood harvest thins the once dense forest, harsh winter temperatures cut into the heart of the forest and millions of butterflies freeze.
The people harvesting from this forest mean no harm. They need firewood to cook for their families, and often they do not know that deforestation is killing the monarch. The cooking fires people build are also damaging their health, as indoor cooking smoke is the world’s leading cause of mortality.
PATSARI STOVE LOCATIONS IN MEXICO
Our program in Mexico has been experiencing near-exponential growth with each passing year. Our team began building stoves at the southern end of the reserve, and is steadily spreading the word from community to community, making its way up and around the reserve’s perimeter. We employ local masons in each community to construct and maintain the stoves.