By Jeff Kapembwa
The ravages of climate change are being felt globally, and in Zambia, campaigners want to collaborate, devise and conserve the forest and the environment sustainably under a joint systematic and long term roadmap to mitigate the impact.
While various parts of the country are initiating various strategies to insulate the environment through consensus with various end users, the administration in Eastern Zambia, sharing the border with Malawi, has forged links with various players for a common cause under the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme-EP-JSLP for a long haul.
The authorities in eastern Zambia have sought alliances with the traditional leadership, climate change campaigners to build strategies and secure consensus, ultimately creating a roadmap to protect and restore the forests in Lundazi, an area recently faced with a climate impasse.
According to the strategic plan, Eastern provincial authorities, under the guidance of the Forest Department, a unit in the Ministry of Green Economy and the Environment (MGEE) seek to ultimately reduce emissions arising from forest degradation and deforestation.
The vision, initiators say is to, among other visions, help safeguard vital forest resources and strengthen climate change mitigation efforts in Eastern Province. The mission supported a series of engagements to build consensus and develop a clear roadmap for the protection and restoration of Lundazi National Forest.
A combined team of various players, interest groups and other like minded-organisations made visits to forests and other sites seeking an appraised view on the state of the national forest in Lundazi. The delegation highlighted the growing challenge of forest degradation and loss and engaged stakeholders on practical strategies to reverse these trends.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Paul Thole, who led a delegation of various players under the-EP-JSLP reiterated the Government’s resolve to stage a multi-pronged plan to counter climatic change effects and help mitigate the impact on forests in the area.
“The Government remains committed to working with line ministries, cooperating partners, traditional leaders, and communities to ensure that the Lundazi National Forest is restored and sustainably managed.”
The delegation had during a courtesy call with Senior Chief Mwase informed the traditional leader on the plans and strategies focused on forest restoration, sustainable land use, following massive encroachments, and other associated climate change mitigation.
The mission to meet various players was arguably to seek approval for partnership and restoration arrangements for Lundazi National Forest in line with Zambia’s legal framework and with the full involvement of key stakeholders.
The delegation, headed by Dr. Frederick Siangulube, the acting Director Forestry at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment that also paid a courtesy call on Chief Kazembe of the Chewa people in Lumezi District shared their desires to preserve the forests as a natural resource.
AND Chief Kazembe was saddened by the increasing deforestation in Lundazi National Forest, attributing it largely to unsustainable tobacco production methods, particularly the curing of Virginia tobacco which requires large quantities of firewood.
“The continued loss of forest cover is worrying, especially due to firewood demand for tobacco curing. As traditional leaders, we must work closely with the government and partners to protect this important forest reserve,” said Chief Kazembe.
The traditional leader pledged to work closely with Government and cooperating partners to preserve key forest reserves. Chief Zumwanda of the Chewa people in Lumezi District, challenged the Forestry Department to co-exist with traditional leaders to strengthen forest conservation efforts.
“Traditional leaders are ready to support conservation efforts, but closer collaboration is needed to address forest encroachment, charcoal production, and unsustainable land-use practices,” said Chief Zumwanda.
However, Dr. Freddie, while noting the concerns of the traditional leaders and other interest groups, explained the objective of the field mission. He emphasized the importance of the collaborative approach under the EP-JSLP. 3
“This mission is about bringing all stakeholders together to promote sustainable agricultural practices, clarify roles and responsibilities, and identify lasting solutions to protect the threatened Lundazi National Forest,”
During another meeting with Chief Chikomeni of the Chewa-speaking people as part of the continued forest management mission in Lundazi and Lumezi Districts, the chief threw his weight towards forest conservation, citing the significant reduction in charcoal production within his chiefdom as a major concern and needs redress.
“Through awareness among my headmen and subjects, charcoal production has reduced by about 90 percent. However, alternative livelihoods are needed for those living and farming within the forest area,”
He proposed beekeeping and other sustainable income-generating activities as viable alternatives to charcoal production. Dr. Siangulube commended the local authorities’ desire to join hands in conservation stating:
“Government is ready to work closely with traditional leaders to explore beekeeping, climate smart agriculture, and other interventions that reduce pressure on forest resources,” he said.
Eastern Province Assistant Secretary Clement Chilembo commended the local leadership for their supportive leadership towards the Government programmes which has helped raise the chiefdom’s profile.
“Chief Chikomeni has demonstrated exemplary leadership and has been instrumental in the development of his chiefdom. His commitment is a model for other traditional leaders,” Mr. Chilembo said.
And during a meeting with stakeholders, Mr. Chilembo, representing the Permanent Secretary commended all the players for developing practical recommendations to address challenges facing Lundazi National Forest.
“The recommendations developed here reflect our collective commitment to safeguarding Lundazi National Forest for present and future generations,” he said.
Among other interest groups in climate change adaptation and mitigation, BCP, COMACO, TBZ, Public Private Partnership partners, ZEMA, DNPW, and the EP-JSLP made their presentation on the way forward the environment grappling with the climatic effects.
While various parts of the country are initiating various strategies to insulate the environment through consensus with various end users, the administration in Eastern Zambia, sharing the border with Malawi, has forged links with various players for a common cause under the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme-EP-JSLP for a long haul.
The authorities in eastern Zambia have sought alliances with the traditional leadership, climate change campaigners to build strategies and secure consensus, ultimately creating a roadmap to protect and restore the forests in Lundazi, an area recently faced with a climate impasse.
According to the strategic plan, Eastern provincial authorities, under the guidance of the Forest Department, a unit in the Ministry of Green Economy and the Environment (MGEE) seek to ultimately reduce emissions arising from forest degradation and deforestation.
The vision, initiators say is to, among other visions, help safeguard vital forest resources and strengthen climate change mitigation efforts in Eastern Province. The mission supported a series of engagements to build consensus and develop a clear roadmap for the protection and restoration of Lundazi National Forest.
A combined team of various players, interest groups and other like minded-organisations made visits to forests and other sites seeking an appraised view on the state of the national forest in Lundazi. The delegation highlighted the growing challenge of forest degradation and loss and engaged stakeholders on practical strategies to reverse these trends.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Paul Thole, who led a delegation of various players under the-EP-JSLP reiterated the Government’s resolve to stage a multi-pronged plan to counter climatic change effects and help mitigate the impact on forests in the area.
“The Government remains committed to working with line ministries, cooperating partners, traditional leaders, and communities to ensure that the Lundazi National Forest is restored and sustainably managed.”
The delegation had during a courtesy call with Senior Chief Mwase informed the traditional leader on the plans and strategies focused on forest restoration, sustainable land use, following massive encroachments, and other associated climate change mitigation.
The mission to meet various players was arguably to seek approval for partnership and restoration arrangements for Lundazi National Forest in line with Zambia’s legal framework and with the full involvement of key stakeholders.
The delegation, headed by Dr. Frederick Siangulube, the acting Director Forestry at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment that also paid a courtesy call on Chief Kazembe of the Chewa people in Lumezi District shared their desires to preserve the forests as a natural resource.
AND Chief Kazembe was saddened by the increasing deforestation in Lundazi National Forest, attributing it largely to unsustainable tobacco production methods, particularly the curing of Virginia tobacco which requires large quantities of firewood.
“The continued loss of forest cover is worrying, especially due to firewood demand for tobacco curing. As traditional leaders, we must work closely with the government and partners to protect this important forest reserve,” said Chief Kazembe.
The traditional leader pledged to work closely with Government and cooperating partners to preserve key forest reserves. Chief Zumwanda of the Chewa people in Lumezi District, challenged the Forestry Department to co-exist with traditional leaders to strengthen forest conservation efforts.
“Traditional leaders are ready to support conservation efforts, but closer collaboration is needed to address forest encroachment, charcoal production, and unsustainable land-use practices,” said Chief Zumwanda.
However, Dr. Freddie, while noting the concerns of the traditional leaders and other interest groups, explained the objective of the field mission. He emphasized the importance of the collaborative approach under the EP-JSLP. 3
“This mission is about bringing all stakeholders together to promote sustainable agricultural practices, clarify roles and responsibilities, and identify lasting solutions to protect the threatened Lundazi National Forest,”
During another meeting with Chief Chikomeni of the Chewa-speaking people as part of the continued forest management mission in Lundazi and Lumezi Districts, the chief threw his weight towards forest conservation, citing the significant reduction in charcoal production within his chiefdom as a major concern and needs redress.
“Through awareness among my headmen and subjects, charcoal production has reduced by about 90 percent. However, alternative livelihoods are needed for those living and farming within the forest area,”
He proposed beekeeping and other sustainable income-generating activities as viable alternatives to charcoal production. Dr. Siangulube commended the local authorities’ desire to join hands in conservation stating:
“Government is ready to work closely with traditional leaders to explore beekeeping, climate smart agriculture, and other interventions that reduce pressure on forest resources,” he said.
Eastern Province Assistant Secretary Clement Chilembo commended the local leadership for their supportive leadership towards the Government programmes which has helped raise the chiefdom’s profile.
“Chief Chikomeni has demonstrated exemplary leadership and has been instrumental in the development of his chiefdom. His commitment is a model for other traditional leaders,” Mr. Chilembo said.
And during a meeting with stakeholders, Mr. Chilembo, representing the Permanent Secretary commended all the players for developing practical recommendations to address challenges facing Lundazi National Forest.
“The recommendations developed here reflect our collective commitment to safeguarding Lundazi National Forest for present and future generations,” he said.
Among other interest groups in climate change adaptation and mitigation, BCP, COMACO, TBZ, Public Private Partnership partners, ZEMA, DNPW, and the EP-JSLP made their presentation on the way forward the environment grappling with the climatic effects.