Overview of the use of timber in construction of small and medium-sized buildings during humanitarian operations.  Timber is defined as wood from all trees and, for the purposes of this set of guidelines, also includes bamboo.  The document provides information on selecting, specifying, procuring, using, and distributing timber and simple tools to facilitate decision-making at various stages of construction.  

This document outlines UNHCR’s plan for managing environmental impacts in refugee settings. It describes the basis for integrating environmental factors into UNHCR’s programs and identifies and evaluates the range of some of the most common environmental impacts associated with refugee or returnee situations and possible interventions to address impacts. The specific issues of cooking and domestic energy are presented in Section 6 of the Guidelines, including general information about possible impacts and suggested considerations in determining interventions.

This handbook details UNHCR’s guidelines for forest management in refugee situations based on lessons learned from the field. With a particular focus on humid and dry tropical regions, the handbook promotes the increased involvement of refugees and local communities in decision-making and management of forest resources. Background information on forests and their role in ecosystem functioning; key issues and concerns of forest management and refugee-assistance programs; and a series of practical actions for initial damage control measures, supply management, and environmental rehabilitation are discussed. In addition, steps are prescribed for the development of a local forest management plan.

A handbook detailing selected environmental practices and lessons learned from past refugee operations. Based on the experiences of UNHCR, partner organizations, and practitioners, the document presents a set of holistic set of lessons and operational guidelines and uses case studies to further illuminate key points. The areas of focus are: Institutional Arrangements; Environmental Assessment, Planning, and Monitoring; Refugee Camp and Settlement Establishment; Domestic Energy and Household Practices; Forestry and Natural Resource Management; and Environmental Education and Awareness-Raising.

General overview of energy options for cooking in refugee situations focusing on three main areas: energy conservation, alternative energy sources, and fuel provision. The handbook discusses improved stoves and alternative fuels and case studies are presented to identify successes and challenges of implementing particular interventions. Essentially a primer on household energy, this report serves as an uncomplicated source of information and general introduction to cooking energy in refugee settings.

A guide presenting key principles to be considered and followed in order to preserve the environment during refugee situations. This document is intended to be used by decision-makers as they design their plan of action for environmental management. Considerations related to household fuel are included.