Regula Ochsner’s (72) invention drives climate protection: More than 500,000 people cook in Swiss ovens in Madagascar

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Anyone who has been to Zurich Zoo’s Masoala Hall knows that paradise conditions can prevail in Madagascar. But Madagascar has been deforested for decades, with up to half a million hectares of forest disappearing every year. One reason for this is that local people traditionally cook over open fires; hence they need firewood for cooking. However, nearly half a million Swiss products are already slowing down this process.

But from the very beginning: Development worker Regula Ochsner (72) noticed frightening developments in Madagascar early on. She first visited Madagascar in the 1970s to develop a project on women’s empowerment. When he returned some 25 years later, he was shocked by the state of the country, which had since been cleansed and therefore impoverished. So Ochsner founded the non-profit association Ades. Since then, deforestation has been fought with simple tools on three levels: The organization, which is virtually unknown in this country and employs six people at Mettmenstetten ZH in Switzerland, employs more than 250 people on a permanent basis in Madagascar and also manages it through dealers . partners and suppliers 600 more jobs. And he is known all over the country.

Clay stoves save firewood and CO2₂

Its fame comes from its first and perhaps most important mainstay: small, portable ovens made from locally mined and fired clay, developed by Ades. Clay pots in an instantly recognizable green metal shell save 50 to 80 percent on firewood compared to traditional cooking methods. The green-clad oven kills three birds with one stone: a reduction in the rate of deforestation, savings for families who can save on firewood, and savings of nearly half a tonne of CO2 per year, thanks to more than half a million ovens sold to date. These values ​​​​will continue to develop in the future: Sales of cooking stoves will remain as high as ever. According to the news of “NZZ” last year, it was around 100,000. Demand currently exceeds Ades’ production capacity: the state of Madagascar aims to have 70 percent of households using energy-saving stoves by 2030, and as a result, Madagascar’s population is around 30 million.

Ochsner has been retired since 2020, and Swiss Managing Director Luc Estapé (57) and National Director André Wasserfallen (64) have since also managed other campaigns in Madagascar. For example, educational projects on sustainability and reforestation projects in a separate department of the company financed solely by donations.

In times when climate protection programs were half-baked, Ades could kill the fourth bird with one stone: as a showcase project for smaller interventions tailored to the high-impact needs of the population.

Source : Blick