Our Work

The Western province of Zambia is particularly vulnerable to climate change as it sits on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The area has seen a considerable loss in biodiversity in the last decade driven by a number factors including but not limited to the need for agricultural land, logging and the production of charcoal.  Burning has led to an increase in the loss of ground cover which is a major driver of desertification.   These factors combined have seen a drastic decline in the size of forests as well as the biodiversity in these forests.

Limited opportunities for formal employment have exerted increased pressure on forests that have traditionally been a source of sustenance for those in rural and remote areas.

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Increased pressure on a diminishing resource means people are increasingly relying on decreasing forests for their livelihood necessitating interventions that protect and preserve them. Additionally, the loss of Biodiversity and drought are laying bare the conflict between humans and wildlife as they compete for resources.

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Rural communities rely on forests and forest resources especially in times of scarcity. It therefore holds that value addition to forest resources can increase incomes, improve livelihoods and play an important role in poverty reduction in rural communities. It further helps protect forests as communities see the financial benefits of forest protection and preservation.