According to the Zambia National Policy on Climate Change 2016, the country loses nearly 300,000 Hectares of forest annually, this is one of the highest deforestation rates in the world.
The country’s dependence on charcoal made from firewood is one of the drivers of this high rate of deforestation. According to the USAID A2C 2021 (Alternative to Charcoal project) nearly 80% of peri-urban and urban households use charcoal as their primary fuel source regardless of income.
ZAMCHA acknowledges that Charcoal production and Sales is an economic activity that people use for their survival.
ZAMCHA will champion initiatives that will reduce deforestation whilst providing Charcoal producers and resellers with a means to continue to make a living. These initiatives will be as follows:
- The production of alternatives to timber that are fast growing and also promote regeneration of degraded forests
- This alternative can be used for charcoal production and is fast growing
What is this alternative? Please stay glued to this space for more details!!