The goal of the project is to reduce emission of greenhouse gas from burning of saw dust and convert same to various low-cost consumer products. The project will strategically identify, train and engage local cooperative groups to collect sawdust and convert into such products as art and craft items, particle boards, floor tiles, ceiling boards, trays, flower pots and briquettes. The groups will also be trained to market their products locally and internationally, as market exists for sawdust products.
It is also strongly believed that if the initial pilot phase (12 months of GEF-SGP funding) is successful, the outcomes and positive impacts will be used to lobby the Nigerian government at local, state and federal level to support its replication in other communities under the government poverty alleviation programs (e.g. National Poverty Eradication Program – NAPEP), better health initiatives, and air pollution abatement programs. Government support to scale up is more achievable considering the existing project partnership with RMRDC - a government agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology.