Deforestation is a growing problem in Africa due to the reliance of family communities on using wood as fuel to prepare their daily meals, or selling charcoal made from wood to buy food for their families. families and survive. For most African households, using wood to make charcoal is their way of life. Without this resource, it would be difficult for them to survive. Their dependence on wood increases during the drought season and floods and makes them dependent on wood used as fuel. Their dependence on firewood destroys not only the forest, but also natural resources. Helping African populations implement the use of biomass as an alternative form of energy will help reduce deforestation and protect Africa's environment and natural resources. Using biomass as an alternative source of energy will help mitigate deforestation as it is environmentally friendly. Biomass is a type of renewable energy; made from recycled waste to create fuel, helping to clean the environment by reusing waste. A known type of alternative energy, GELfuel, "...is a green gel-like substance composed of ethanol and other renewable sources" (Gama 61). Gelfuel has a low emission rate of "50 percent less carbon dioxide emissions" (Gama 61), which makes this type of alternative energy environmentally friendly, and also does not produce harmful pollutants or dangerous gases that can be dangerous to a person's health. The use of Gelfuel will be very effective in reducing deforestation in Africa as it will reduce the dependence of African family communities on the use of wood as fuel. In addition, it helps to keep the environment clean, as well as protect forests from deforestation and preserve them...... middle of paper ......untry, but as a whole it is our planet. It is our responsibility to protect Earth's natural resources, not only for our future, but also for our future generations. If we don't protect and preserve our natural resources now, our future generations will have to solve the problems we leave behind. What will they have to expect if our natural environments and precious natural resources are destroyed? Works Cited Hobbs Gama. “An alternative fuel for Malawi. » Appropriate Technology 30.4 (2003): 61-62. Platinum Periodicals, ProQuest. Internet. March 5, 2011. Masina, L.. “The charcoal enigma. » African Business February 1, 2009: Research Library, ProQuest. Internet. March 5, 2011.Collins Mtika. “AFRICA: AN HERBALIST FROM MALAWI JOINS THE FIGHT AGAINST DEFORESTATION. » Global Information Network October 21, 2010 Research Library, ProQuest. Internet. March 5. 2011.