Presented by: Davies KasholePresented by: Davies KasholeForestry Extension OfficerForestry Extension OfficerForestry DepartmentForestry DepartmentZambia Zambia

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATIONBackgroundMajor Uses of Forest in ZambiaChallenges of Forest ManagementRequired Co-BenefitsJoint Forest ManagementLessons LearnedConclusion

BackgroundZambia surface land area is 752,614Km2

Forests cover about 49.9 million ha (66% of land cover),

The forest vegetation type is mainly Miombo (Semi-evergreen forests); Baikiaea, Munga, Mopane, Kalahari woodlands (Deciduous Forests), Ripian, Swap, Parinari, Itigi, Lake basin Chipya (Evergreen forests), Termitary associated bushes (Shrub thickets), grasslands, wooded grasslands.

Plantations cover about 61,000 ha (7,000 ha under the Forestry Department and 50,000 ha under ZAFFICO, the rest by communities, farmers, schools etc.)

Growing stock = 2.9 billion m3, national biomass (below and above)= 5.6 billion tonnes & 434 million tonnes as dead wood biomass. TOTAL: 6 billion tonnes (ILUA 2008).

About 2.8 billion tonnes of carbon stored in forests

Major Uses of Forests in ZambiaThe major uses and products from

the forests are:a. Wood products: e.g. poles,

timber, firewood, charcoalb. Non-wood forest products: e.g.

honey, fruits, mushroomsc. Environmental services:

Protection of water catchment areas, soil erosion control, cultural and traditions, carbon storage and sequestration

Major Uses of Forest in Zambia Cont’d

(d) Offer employment opportunities in forest enterprises

(e) Business opportunities for household income generation

Challenges of Forest ManagementThe major problem is deforestation

and forest degradation, which are caused by various factors:

I. Expansion of agricultural fieldsII. Unsustainable fuel wood

collection (charcoal production, and commercial firewood)

III. Uncontrolled forest firesIV. Over-exploitation of timberV. Infrastructure developmentVI. Encroachment on forests and

unplanned settlementsVII. In adequate coordination in

land-use planning and management

Challenges of Forest Management Cont’d

AgriculturalAgriculturalExpansionExpansion

SettlementSettlement(In-Migrations(In-Migrations))

Mining andMining andMineral Mineral

ExplorationExploration

Forest ProductionForest Production(Livelihood)(Livelihood)

InfrastructureInfrastructureDevelopmentDevelopment

Natural Natural DisastersDisasters(Flooding)(Flooding)

Required Co-benefitsForests are the lungs of our planet, and if

managed sustainably, hold the potential to provide subsistence for a huge proportion of world’s population, whilst averting future climate calamity in their capacity as vital carbon store and sink.

The services and products that forests provide to local communities are the obvious benefits to local communities.

Include conservation of forest biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem services -

Required Co-benefits Cont’dHowever, we need to promote benefits that add

value in order to ensure biodiversity management:

Local communities being able to make and influence decisions in forest resource management

Revenue generated to contribute to local level development, supporting rural health centres, schools, feeder roads etc

Investments in value addition, e.g., small-scale forest enterprise development.

Joint Forest ManagementThe Zambian version of JFM is not one which aims

at rehabilitation, but sustainable forest management.

Involves: Developing local-level forest management

structures (Forest Management Committees) Developing management plans as a guide to

land use and natural resource management The plan, once approved, is then implemented Promote enterprise and income generating

activities

Lessons LearntIn order to deal with benefits, there is a need to

identify drivers of deforestation.In Zambia, expansion of agricultural fields poses a

challenge.Defining an appropriate benefit-sharing mechanism

is an incentive that can help sustainable forest management.

The definition JFM should not centre on a simple description of adjacent communities, but a broader land-use management approach.

It should be clear that there are benefits to accrue for communities and those for the resources (biodiversity).

Biodiversity can be well managed if the communities are able to improve their livelihoods.

ConclusionFor co-benefits to be promoted, there is a need to

address the needs of local communities.Government is now implementing REDD+ readiness

and ILUA programs to help enhance co-benefits.The potential of REDD+ to achieve multiple social

and environmental benefits also bears the risk of causing social and environmental harm if the REDD+ programs are designed with a focus on emission reduction objectives only.

Zambia’s REDD+ Programme will focus on the possible institutional and governance structures that could facilitate attaining co-benefits and respecting safeguards.

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