The first models of the “Justa” wood-conserving stove were introduced to SHI-Panama in 2007 following a staff training in Honduras, where they learned about its benefits, design and construction. SHI-Panama Field Trainer Diomedes Arrocha dedicated a lot of time to the construction of the “Justa” stove model, but he began to introduce some changes since the original model was costly due to the amount of metal used, such as the thick iron griddle, metal chimney and grill.
Panamanian families generally cook in a place that is airy and separated from the living quarters, so one change was to eliminate the chimney. In this new design, the combustion of the firewood is in the “elbow rocket,” or combustion chamber. If using properly dried wood, combustion generally does not generate smoke.
Another change was to eliminate the iron griddle (comal or plancha). In countries like Honduras, the plancha was necessary due to the culture of making tortillas, however in Panama, it is less common to make tortillas or cook with flat-bottomed pots. In order to facilitate the cooking process and improve the surface area being directly heated, the Panama staff developed custom rings or grills that the traditional rounded-bottom pots can sit directly in.
Finally, the new design eliminates the metal grill used to suspend the firewood. It was found that firewood could be positioned in the entrance and combustion chamber to permit the entry and circulation of oxygen.
Due to all the changes made to the original “Justa” model, the local staff had essentially created a new wood-conserving stove that met the cultural needs of local Panamanians. The SHI-Panama team decided to name this new stove “DAMAK,” an acroynm representing the initials of the hardworking women of the SHI-Panama team - Daysbeth, Dayra, Maribel and Kayling.
The DAMAK stove was recently analyzed by the Technological University of Panamá for it’s durability. According to the study, a typical DAMAK stove can last 15 years if properly maintained. The lifespan can be increased through the tweaking of certain materials and proper reinforcement.
The DAMAK stove has revolutionized the countryside in Panama. Through SHI-Panama’s work, hundreds have been built. Several thousand more are being adopted by other NGOs and government organizations including Peace Corps Panama and ANAM (Panama National Environmental Authority). Thanks to the efforts of SHI-Panama and the participant families, the DAMAK stove has become a symbol of ingenuity and culturally appropriate technologies that improve livelihoods and preserve the environment.
Click here to download a diagram & costs for the DAMAK Wood-Conserving Stove (PDF).
More about the history of wood-conserving stoves in Central America
Wood-conserving stoves are saving thousands of trees, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and greatly improving women's and children's health in Central America. Utilizing up to 50% less wood as a “traditional” open pit fireplace and reducing the amount of smoke and black carbon in the home, the wood-conserving stoves (such as the DAMAK and Justa stoves) being implemented by SHI are a radical and healthy change.
Traditionally, the walls and roofs of rural homes in Central America would be caked with black soot, while smoke being inhaled by women and children would be the equivalent of smoking 2 to 5 packs of cigarettes per day. Such traditional stoves, notorious for consuming large amounts of wood, are also a main cause of respiratory infections, tuberculosis, eye disease and more. According to the World Health Organization, about 1.6 million deaths around the world were associated with indoor air pollution or the burning of biomass as cooking fuel.
Using a combination of bricks and adobes, the wood conserving stoves being installed by SHI Field Trainers and participants have been known to:
- Cut wood consumption by up to 50%
- Reduce indoor smoke by 90%, thus reducing carbon monoxide and particulate matter
- Save an average of 1.5 tons of carbon emissions per year (according to tests conducted by Trees, Water, People)
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"I just returned from a 10-day trip to Honduras with Sustainable Harvest International. That small organization with a relatively small staff ... is doing a fantastic job helping the rural areas of Honduras diversify crops and re-forest the denuded mountains of the country. [They] demonstrated a dedication and grasp of both the problems and possible solutions that I found worthy of Nobel prize recognition. The leadership of our Smaller World Tour by an employee of SHI was first-rate. We worked, we learned, we contributed. If there is truly a way to help the impoverished developing world, SHI holds the key."
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