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This project empowers farming communities in Zambia to protect disappearing forests, improve their livelihoods, and create a sanctuary for threatened, globally important wildlife.
BioCarbon’s investment enables local farmers in Zambia to conserve 39,000 hectares of Miombo forest by changing conventional land-use patterns. Forests across Africa are increasingly threatened, as they are cut down to make room for agriculture and to produce charcoal needed for cooking. This project trains hundreds of families in more efficient farming methods and provides them with higher-quality seeds, which allows them to double food production. This reduces the need for smallholder farmers to continuously expand the areas they cultivate. Additional community-focused investments help further engage farmers in forest conservation. New income opportunities are created through the foundation of village-based businesses for the production of poultry, honey, and sustainable eco-charcoal. Market accessibility is improved by providing villagers with transport for their produce. New jobs are created for anti-poaching scouts recruited from the communities. Moreover, project funds support local healthcare facilities, improve access to safe drinking water and build schooling infrastructure. This gives local children and their families a better chance for a bright future. Producing tangible livelihood benefits for local communities has been the key to protecting forests and wildlife, as well as contributing to the fight against global climate change. By saving the forest, the project protects valuable habitat of some of Africa’s most charismatic wildlife. Local communities, traditional authorities and government have been successfully engaged and supported in fighting poaching pressures on lions, antelopes, and other threatened species. Local project implementation is led by BioCarbon Partners (www.biocarbonpartners.com), an Africa-based REDD+ social enterprise. Certifications: • Validated and verified under the internationally leading Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) • Achieved Triple Gold validation under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) Standards
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