Use of Parkia biglobosa based wall-plaster for plastering mud walls

Cost of building materials is continuously rising. Low cost shelter can mentain good health of vulnerable lives in many places. What are the alternatives? Mud(earth) wall buildings are easy and less costly to build and their waste can re-integrate with the soil. Their weakness to wind and water can be improved, and an appropriate finishing to these buildings will improve appearance, durability and comfort. A plaster based on Parkia biglobosa husk extract is cheaper and has been used by the Kasena-Nankana people of Northern Ghana. This product has been adopted by SWOPA. This book presents some review of buildings and the chemistry of the indigenous plaster product. It has three parts: Introduction; literature; materials, plaster simulation and chemical analyses. The book is initiating research for improvement of the mud-wall-plaster and for conservation of the tree. The indigenous technology may transform into intermediate technology by the end. This book should be very useful to people who own/hope to own mud buildings, to pick ideas for resurfacing (plastering) of such buildings; and also, to Not For Profit organisations, NGOs, students, reseachers, and building practisioners.