Zambia

Aboveground and belowground tree biomass and carbon stocks in the miombo woodlands of the Copperbelt in Zambia

Background

Miombo Woodlands occupy an estimated 2.7 million km² across southern Africa and support millions of people through fuelwood, charcoal, and non-timber products, while also storing substantial carbon. In Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, woodland conversion and degradation for charcoal and agriculture risk reducing carbon stocks, but local biomass values are poorly constrained, leading to uncertainty in national estimates and REDD+ baselines. This study responds to the need for site-specific biomass and carbon data in one of Zambia’s most industrialized and heavily used miombo regions.

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The Realities of Community Based Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND:

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The ecology and management of the Miombo woodlands for sustainable livelihoods in southern Africa: the case for non-timber forest products

BACKGROUND

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Improving land and water management

BACKGROUND

This working paper from World Resources Institute (WRI) gives a glimpse of the challenges experienced by smallholder farmers across developing countries. Issues on land – from insecure tenure to degradation, exacerbated by pressures from climate change, has resulted into a significant drop in crop yield. This led to more poverty and food insecurity. However, linkages between scientists and farmers provide some hope in terms of possible solutions to increase agricultural production. Improved land and water management is at the center of all this.

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Contributions of agroforestry to ecosystem services in the miombo eco-region of eastern and southern Africa

BACKGROUND

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Distribution and genetic diversity of five invasive pests of Eucalyptus in sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Plantation forestry in Sub- Saharan Africa has been characterized by an introduction of several Eucalyptus species because of their socio- economic benefits. However, these Eucalyptus trees have been affected by non- native foliage feeding insect pests, which have been accidentally introduced, resulting in stunted growth and in some cases mortality. The rate of introduction of non-native eucalypt-feeding insects globally has increased nearly five-fold between the 1980s and 2010s.

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Getting the Right End of the Stick: Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation in an Organizational Context

Background

This chapter documents the process by which CARE Zambia institutionalized a learning approach to their internal management and a participatory model of monitoring and evaluation as well as the results of this transition, using a food security project as a case study. CARE Zambia used seven principles to turn themselves into a 'learning organization': 1) thrive on change, 2) facilitate learning from the surrounding environment, 3) facilitate learning from staff, 4) encourage experimentation, 5) communicate sucesses and failures, 6) reward learning, and 7) promote a sense of caring.

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Contributions of agroforestry to ecosystem services in the miombo eco-region of eastern and southern Africa

Background

The article discusses the functional benefits of agroforestry to the miombo region of eastern and southern Africa, which includes the following countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

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Financial Analysis of Agroforestry Practices

Background

The analysis of economic of agroforestry is more complicated than annual crops because it involves trees and crops and because there is usually a period between establishment and when impact can be measured. This chapter analyses the financial returns of farmers in three practices: fodder shrubs (Calliandra calothyrsus) in Kenya were established to increase mil production; rotational woodlots in Tanzania were implemented to provide firewood (Acacia crassicarpa) and improved fallows (Sesbania sesban) were established in Zambia to increase fertility. 

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Economic and Social Significance of Forests for Africa’s Sustainable Development

background

This magazine issue covers topics related to Africa's forests and sustainable development.

Conclusions & Takeaways

Topics include sustainable mangrove management in Nigeria, plantation forests in South Africa, natural resource management in Zambia, land governance by local communities, etc.

 

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