The incredible African Miombo forests - home to iconic wildlife, a significant global carbon stock, and supporting the lives of millions of people - are under threat. Through community-based forest management, WeForest is establishing thousands of hectares of forest regeneration and conservation. WeForest is working with farmers and local communities to protect and restore these forests.

Challenge

50 years ago, over 80% of Zambia was forest. Today, only half of those forests remain. Around 300,000 ha of miombo forest is destroyed annually in Zambia. Charcoal production and agriculture are the main sources of income for local communities, yet both are unsustainable due to degrading forests and soils, causing extensive deforestation and environmental degradation nationwide.

Long-Term Impact

Without intervention, the deforestation trend is likely to increase in the coming years. The Miombo forests support millions of people in Zambia and provide fuel, food (fruits, honey, caterpillars, mushrooms), medicinal plants and fodder for livestock. It's still home to iconic wildlife such as elephants and rhinos. With the protection and restoration of the miombo forests a significant carbon stock is also preserved, essential if we want to have a chance in avoiding dangerous climate change.

References

1. http://www.weforest.org
2. https://www.weforest.org/project/zambia-katanino
3. https://www.weforest.org/project/copperbelt-forests-farms
4. https://www.weforest.org/project/mafinga-hills
5. https://www.weforest.org/project/chintumukulu-conservancy

Project Gallery