The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the National Integrated and Development Association (NIDA), Pakistan, based in Besham, District Kohistan, NWFP have inked a Letter of Understanding (LoU) for implementing the project titled “Improving Environment Through Reduction in Wood Cutting and Remission in Green House Gases Through Fuel Efficient Technologies in District Kohistan in NWFP of Pakistan”.

The Asia Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED), Japan, approved the project for funding as one of the ten "Show Case" projects from over 1,000 projects submitted from the Asia Pacifc region for 2009 - 2010. The Institute for Global Environment Strategies (IGES), Japan, and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (ROAP), Bangkok, act as Secretariat and Facility Secretariat for APFED, respectively.

Dr. Zia ur Rahman Farooqi, Chief Executive, NIDA and Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI, signed for their respective organizations. Mr. Zahoor ullah Babar and Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja from NIDA and SDPI would respectively be focal persons for the program and its activities.

The agreement aims at: a) Raising awareness through social mobilization and training in the communities and schools on protection of environmental health and climate change. Activities also include a Planning Workshop, Social Mobilization and Formation of Village Base Organizations, and Project visibility; b) introduction of fuel and energy efficient technologies i.e. smokeless stove, solar dryer in 20 villages to improve the livelihood and environmental conditions of the communities. It includes the identification and training of blacksmiths for local stoves production and training of local women at home, on the use of fuel efficient stoves; c) distribution of industrial stoves in the poorest areas to the most vulnerable community members.