As the human population increases, natural resources are rapidly being diminished, which puts pressure on energy conservation, especially to those living in developing countries. In countries where locals depend on parks for resources, deforestation greatly affects their way of life.
In an effort to limit the effects of deforestation, five cadets from the United States Military Academy (USMA) travelled to Kasiisi, Uganda, to participate in the construction of a Biogas Digester during a Renewable Energy mission June 16 – July 3 as part of an ongoing cooperation between U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) and USMA.
The digester, which uses waste and food scraps to create methane for cooking and fertilizer, was constructed in conjunction with The Kasiisi Project, an organization focused on conservation education in Kibale National Park.
"This project provided an opportunity for the cadets to gain an appreciation of the local community and the challenges they face," said Maj. Adam Brady '02, West Point Geography and Environmental Engineering instructor. "In doing so, cadets learned a valuable lesson on the importance of understanding the culture and resources available to the local population in Uganda."
Cadet Ethan Dewart, a Barker, N.Y. native, said this mission will be critical in future engagements with leaders from other militaries.
"Working on a digester that converts waste into energy will be valuable in a military focusing more on sustainability with limited resources," Deward said. "There were many customs and ways of doing things that varied greatly from how we do them. I will remember this in the future as I train my Soldiers for deployment to foreign countries."