Zambia: Lower Zambezi Community Forest Conservation

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1 project focus Zambia: Lower Zambezi Community Forest Conservation The Lower Zambezi Community Forest Conservation Project works with local villages to improve land use practices and maintain a healthy ecosystem across approximately 33,000 hectares of Miombo forest. As Zambia s first active REDD+ project, it is establishing a range of initiatives to tackle deforestation pressures including training local communities on improved and diversified agricultural practices; producing eco-charcoal; and establishing organisation networks to monitor and protect the reserve. Project type: REDD+ Region: Africa Standards: 2015 Rodney Rascona for The Paradigm Project

2 The project is creating and refurbishing borehole wells to help communities access free, clean drinking water. The project Located approximately 100km east of the capital city of Lusaka, the project zone experiences deforestation rates over ten times higher than Zambia s national rate, largely due to its close proximity to the city which has a large demand for charcoal. Meanwhile, income levels amongst the project s 8,000 community members spread across 28 villages are extremely low, with 88% of households living below the $1.25/day World Bank poverty line. Local communities generally depend on charcoal and small-scale agricultural activities for their livelihoods, but these inefficient land-use practices put significant pressure on shrinking forest resources. By helping establish sustainable practices and conservation agreements with these communities, the project is facilitating the creation of a buffer for The Lower Zambezi National Park and Mana Pools National Park, which are both areas of global biodiversity significance. Contribution to sustainable development The project contributes to sustainable development in several areas: Biodiversity protection The project area remains one of the last intact areas of forest in Lusaka Province and provides a 60-kilometre buffer to the adjacent Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP), a strategically protected area in Zambia within a globally significant trans-frontier conservation area. As an important buffer, the project area provides an increased habitat for many species that reside in the National Park, though the exact species mix does differ due to the different landscapes. Within the project area there is presence of endangered and vulnerable Forest monitoring training within the project area. Working with 8,000 community members from 28 local villages to improve land use practices and maintain a healthy ecosystem species, such as the African wild dog and lion. A number of project activities are helping reduce unsustainable habitat conversion, including eco-charcoal, conservation farming, agroforestry, forest fire protection and forest patrolling. The successful protection of the project area has increased the presence of a variety of species in the vicinity. Water stewardship Without the project, deforestation and degradation from continued inefficient charcoal production and agricultural land conversion will likely exacerbate soil and groundwater degradation. There are two perennial rivers running through the project lands, one of which is the only perennial river to run into the Lower Zambezi National Park. Therefore the project is helping manage the watershed and hydrological systems through forest protection, erosion control and fire management. The project is also creating and refurbishing borehole wells to help communities access free, clean drinking water, which is vital in a country where almost 50% of the rural population lack access to such resources 1. Three boreholes were created in 2014, estimated to benefit at least 115 households, with one more planned for a school in Chilimba, serving 150 children. The boreholes, located directly in the villages, have saved many of these people significant time in water collection from previously remote water sources.

3 Food security Training and resources to build sustainable agricultural practice is a key aspect of helping reduce pressures of deforestation and improve livelihoods. Conservation agriculture activities, implemented in partnership with non-profit Zambian organisations such as Musika and Conservation Farming Unit, help lower income households improve farming techniques while gaining access to new markets. Improved farming practices that are being introduced include minimum tillage maize production, ceasing crop-residue burning, planting nitrogen-fixing trees that naturally fertilise the soil, crop rotation, crop diversification, and mulching with agricultural waste. The project is facilitating the creation of a buffer for The Lower Zambezi National Park and Mana Pools National Park both areas of global biodiversity significance Village chicken projects are being introduced to improve small livestock production and support communities access local markets. Fruit tree planting sustainable agricultural practice is a key aspect of helping reduce pressures of deforestation. The project is also working to improve small livestock production through training; provision of higher quality goats; and establishing village chicken projects such activities will also help reduce wildlife pressures caused by hunting. As of 2015, the chicken programme is in pilot phase with approximately 200 participants, but with the help of the implementing partner, COMACO, the project is anticipated to scale considerably, especially as it is one of the more desired community programmes. A key component will be to help participants sell the higher-quality, free-range chickens to local markets. Financial security The agricultural and livestock initiatives are not only key activities in contributing to food security, but are also important for improving community incomes by reducing expenditure while generating possible surplus that may be sold. A community survey completed prior to project implementation revealed 40% of household expenses were attributable to food purchases, emphasising the possible income benefit resulting from conservation agricultural activities. As a least developed country, Zambia s average household income is already quite low, but the well-being of communities within the project zone is even significantly below that national average 88% of households live below the $1.25/day World Bank poverty line.

4 Conservation agriculture activities help low income households improve farming techniques and build local business capacity while gaining access to new markets Introducing higher efficiency kilns, part of the eco-charcoal programme, is fundamental in helping reduce deforestation pressures. The project is piloting a number of other agricultural initiatives to help strengthen business capacity and reduce poverty, notably a sustainable honey production project. In 2014, 60 people were trained, 14 households were involved, and 30 hives were purchased; but in 2015 this programme is expected to reach more meaningful scale, particularly as the implementing partner, CAMACO, will help address packaging and distribution. Additionally, the project is implementing an eco-charcoal programme, specifically developed to reduce illegal charcoal production and increase earnings from legally produced charcoal for marginalised, low income producers. The eco-charcoal programme is currently in pilot phase but expected to scale in coming years as another fundamental aspect of the project in helping reduce deforestation pressures. Energy access More specifically, the project s sustainable charcoal activities include training on harvesting techniques (e.g. strip harvesting regenerative cutting techniques); sustainably managing specific forest areas for production; introducing higher efficiency kilns; and improving market links. Lusaka is the largest consumer of charcoal in the country, while the Chongwe District in the east of Lusaka Province where the project is located accounts for over 25% of Lusaka s charcoal supply. The eco-charcoal programme therefore helps increase the share of more sustainable energy resources. Though the project is only in pilot phase currently, it is expected to increase from 250 to 600 hectares over the next months and is beginning to identify market demand within Lusaka. Economic growth Crop diversification, sustainable honey production, eco-charcoal initiatives and hydra-form brick making are helping develop local business capacity, access markets and create new jobs. There are a range of other anticipated small businesses the project is aiming to implement as project revenues develop. Infrastructure development Hydra-form brick making is helping to establish more developed construction capacities in the project zone. To date, this technology has been used to improve one teacher s house and refurbish a community school with a new concrete floor. Importantly, the project is indirectly improving community health through infrastructure improvements on boreholes and the Namanongo Rural Health Centre, which now has installed solar lighting when it previously had no lighting at all.

5 ANGOLA DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO TANZANIA Climate adaptation Climate changes are likely to have an impact on the well-being of communities and biodiversity in the project zone; a variety of the project s activities are helping build resilience to these likely climate scenarios, including crop diversification, conservation agriculture, fire management, improved livestock production and honey production. LUSAKA ZIMBABWE MALAWI MOZAMBIQUE Job creation Approximately 60 people are employed full time by the project, 25 of which reside within the local communities. Formal job roles include forest patrolling, carbon monitoring, field administration and support staff, community teachers, and community engagement teams. Other indirect job opportunities are being created through agricultural programmes and also part-time eco-tourism initiatives. Approximately 60 people are employed full time by the project, 25 of which reside within the local communities Education and skills In addition to the training activities on sustainable agriculture, the project is placing an emphasis on education in the area by co-funding five teachers salaries in two community schools; providing supplies for children of the poorest households, and initiating an environmental curriculum to raise awareness on ecosystems and deforestation. Ultimately, the project is designed to convert current community (informal) schools into government-recognised District schools. The region Zambia is defined as a least developed country with over 60% of the population living below the international poverty line of $1.25/person/day (2010) 2. Meanwhile, the country has the second highest ratio of forest loss to forest gain of any country in the world, losing ~4% of forest cover annually 3. With an electrification rate below 25% (and below 5% in rural areas) 4, the country faces significant energy challenges. Unsurprisingly, biomass (charcoal and wood) accounts for ~70%+ of the country s total energy demand (industrial and domestic).this heavy reliance on biomass fuels is a significant cause of the ~47% of the country s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributed to land-use change 4. 1 According to 2010 statistics listed on the CIA World Factbook page, only 46% of Zambians living in rural areas have access to clean drinking water FAO, 2011 Contact us: London: Bravington House, 2 Bravington Walk, Regent Quarter, London, N1 9AF, United Kingdom T +44 (0) sales@carbonneutral.com New York: 545 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA T salesna@carbonneutral.com