In Photos: Tanzania's Biogas Initiative

April 25, 2016 | Pulitzer Center

Amanda Williams

A young woman cooks over an open fire in a common, poorly ventilated Tanzanian kitchen structure. Image by Amanda Williams. Tanzania, 2016.

This white post and the fire line mark the edge of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where many women trespass to steal firewood for cooking. Image by Amanda Williams. Tanzania, 2016.

After the gas is extracted, the bioslurry that is left over spills out onto the soil. Image by Amanda Williams. Tanzania, 2016.

Biogas can be used to power burners for cooking or even gas lights. Image by Amanda Williams. Tanzania, 2016.

Individual firewood collection is only one of many sources of deforestation in Tanzania, but it is one that has numerous consequences. However, individual firewood collection has an available solution: biogas powered by livestock manure. The conservationists’ challenge is how to get people to install it