The ALL Power Labs web site contains some interesting information: A "gasification experimenter's kit", plans for various gasifier designs made from common parts and results of gasifier tests. Very interesting technology and material.

Small-scale gasification of biomass waste and coal for operating cogeneration units (gas/diesel engines connected to generators with exhaust and coolant heat recovery), vehicles, and other purposes is a technology in-line with sustainable development, localization, and decentralized control of resources. Developing countries which inefficiently use firewood for heating and cooking may gasify this wood to produce heat and electricity, getting more out of the resource and reducing deforestation.

Electricity is one of those things which tends to bring about massive increases in quality of life, enabling clean water, food preservation, lighting, etc. Problems will only begin to arise when we begin using firewood to power 52-inch screens and hot tubs in every household. That is when the world's forests are in trouble!