ID: 1305

Katanino, Zambia: Supporting successful Joint Forest Management.

In the absence of strong governance, Katanino Forest Reserve has been heavily degraded for charcoal production, agriculture and timber extraction. In the past five years alone, 42% of the forest has already been lost and another 18% heavily degraded. This trend is likely to increase in the years to come if there is no intervention, while the needs of the local community living in or around the forest are growing. Current 'reforestation' efforts in the area have been limited and restricted to small areas outside the forest reserve, mostly on private land. WeForest are currently laying the groundwork – by protecting and restoring 4,800 hectares of the Katanino Forest Reserve – so that local communities, with public institutions, can take over management of the reserve. In addition, more than 900 farmers in the buffer zone will set aside at least half a hectare each in their farms as restoration plots and take up income-generating activities – mainly beekeeping – to reduce pressure on the forest. The project is now verified to the Forest Ecosystem Restoration standard. This standard enables projects to demonstrate alignment with and support for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and covers technical, environmental, social and economic criteria.

Planned actions

Protection of land/water

Management of land/water