At Empowered by Light (EBL) we have seen and experienced the many ways solar energy supports wildlife conservation. The solar energy projects we’ve done in and around national parks and reserves in countries such as Nepal, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the DRC have had a real and positive impact on animals and the people working to protect them.
Powering Rangers Working to Protect Wildlife
National Park Rangers around the world work to protect wildlife and nature–risking their lives even in some places, combating poachers, wildfires, and extreme weather to preserve animals and their environments for future generations.
In Nepal, EBL has completed six solar energy projects in and around Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The solar energy system on an isolated ranger station powers the rangers’ lights and communications, helping them do their jobs including protecting Bengal tigers, single-horned Asiatic rhinos, and other wildlife from poachers. We also powered five tourist observation towers in and around Chitwan National Park generating income for the communities just outside the park, helping reduce poaching and boosting conservation efforts.
In the DRC, with support from the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and working with GivePower Foundation we installed three solar microgrids in Africa’s oldest National Park, Virunga National Park. This park covers 3,000 square miles in the continent’s most biodiverse area which is home to a quarter of the world's mountain gorillas, apes, and endangered okapis, among other wildlife. This park is extremely dangerous for the rangers to protect, and the solar energy systems were installed to power rangers’ lights and essential communication equipment.
In Zimbabwe, we installed 10 kilowatts of solar panels and 45 kilowatt hours of energy storage (batteries) for the Akashinga Ranger Program. The all-women Akashinga ranger force works on conservation and law enforcement and were featured in National Geographic’s documentary, The Brave Ones. These rangers patrol 1.3 million acres and have achieved a 90% reduction in elephant poaching.
Powering Water to Sustain Wildlife
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest National Park, is home to over one hundred species of mammals and four hundred species of birds. These animals have limited access to water, especially during the dry season which runs from April to November–a situation that became dangerous last year with Africa’s severe drought. To combat this problem, park management created watering holes with diesel pumps to provide the water. Since diesel is expensive, polluting and unreliable, the local NGO, Friends of Hwange, converted all the pumps to solar energy, but without batteries the animals did not have access to water at night endangering animals, particularly elephants, who had to be exposed to the extreme heat to drink water during the day. This also caused species that do not naturally share watering holes at the same time to intermingle, risking their lives.
Empowered by Light has to date supported four watering holes, providing battery storage, which provide essential water for animals throughout the day and night. We hope to continue supporting these types of projects helping protect elephants, lions and other endangered and iconic species.
Powering Conservation Education
One of EBL’s first projects was a solar energy system for Conservation Lower Zambezi, a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Zambia providing conservation education to teachers and students and anti-poaching and law enforcement support to National Park personnel in southern Zambia. The solar energy system saves CLZ thousands of dollars normally spent on diesel, freeing up resources to expand their conservation efforts.
Why Solar Energy is a Game-Changer for Wildlife Conservation
By deploying solar energy solutions, we have been able to provide safe, dependable, and cost-effective energy in remote locations rich in wildlife and other forms of biodiversity. Transitioning from expensive and polluting diesel allows rangers and conservationists to direct their savings to expanding conservation efforts and reduces the risk of pollution from the diesel in these critical habitats. This reliable source of energy supplies rangers’ power needs–from lighting and fans in ranger stations to radios and cell phones for communications with other rangers on anti-poaching patrols and to stay in touch with loved ones during extended patrols in the field.
Help Us Protect Wildlife with Solar Power
Wildlife conservation requires innovative solutions, and solar energy is making a positive difference. By supporting our work, you help provide rangers with the power they need to patrol protected areas, combat poaching, and protect endangered species. Your donation also helps bring sustainable water solutions to areas without reliable water supplies, ensuring wildlife can survive dangerous periods of drought. Donate today to help us continue using clean energy to protect our planet’s most vulnerable species.
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