Sustainable charcoal production key to protect forests

Forests in Zambia are estimated to provide at least 1.4 million jobs, support 60% of rural households who heavily depend on forests and contribute approximately 20% of rural household incomes, according to Ministry of Green Economy.

According to Ministry Communications Officer Chibaula Silwamba forests provide 80% of energy needs in the form of fire wood and charcoal.

He said the Forestry Department is alive to the fact that charcoal production contributes to livelihoods of people and will endeavor to come up with workable solutions in addressing unsustainable production and trade of this commodity.

“There is need to find practical solutions to the challenges and help in prioritising actions in addressing these issues which include enhanced regulatory compliance of charcoal production and trade, enhanced adoption rates of alternative energy sources to charcoal among others”, said Mr. Silwamba.

Besides charcoal production other main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Zambia are wood extraction, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development and fires.

And USAID Chief of Party Dr. Catherine Picard has observed that the demand for charcoal is rising exponentially propelling an increase of charcoal production in rural areas and over- exploitation of Zambia’s highly bio-diverse Miombo woodlands.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called for a national strategy and action plan to curb unsustainable charcoal production and encroachment in protected forest areas.

WWF Country Director, Nachilala Nkombo, says her organisation is looking forward to actionable solutions, which will turn around the current status quo within the shortest possible time.

 Ms. Nkombo has cited the drying up of Magoye River in Southern Province as a result of unregulated cutting down of trees that has left the community vulnerable.

 Zambia is among the hundred countries that have signed the Glasgow Leaders declaration on forests to stop deforestation by 2030 and President Hakainde Hichilema says the development is a milestone for Zambia as the country moves towards harnessing renewable energy.