The Secretariat of State for Environment (SEMA) has distributed free Timor stoves to homes in order to cut back on the burning of wood.
SEMA general director Joao Carlos Soares said the program also offered money to groups to plant trees at certain sites deemed at risk.
The program was aided by Mercy Corps and operated in Manatuto, Suai, Oe-cusse, Aileu and Viqueque with plans for expansion to the remaining districts.
Each suku will receive 120 of the wood-burning stoves which will go to the households determined to be the biggest users of wood.
Soares said the project would protect vulnerable woodland areas. He said the government would post staff at at-risk locations to look for tree-chopping in protected areas.
Areas most at risk include Camea and Manumeta Rai-hun but deforestation had decreased since protection laws were brought into effect.
Resident Olinda Sales said she supported the move to protect trees but was concerned about the cost to the government.
“The stove is good as it reduces the cost of buying wood for us,” she said.
“Before, we would spend $1 on wood every three days but with the stove that lasts us a week.”
