Reducing deforestation in Zambia

Transcription

1 Reducing deforestation in Zambia Help combat climate change, while also supporting Zambian communities to build a brighther future. Developing community livelihoods is key to protecting our forests.

2 Zambia Deforestation accounts for an estimated 15% of the world s CO 2 -emissions Zambia loses forest four times the size of New York City to deforestation every year. That s an average of 300,000 hectares of trees and valuable wildlife habitat disappearing annually due to charcoal production and traditional, unsustainable farming techniques. Deforestation in Zambia not only contributes to global climate change, but also exacerbates the loss of already threatened African wildlife species such as elephants and lions. BCP s mission is to make forest and wildlife conservation valuable to people. We develop forest carbon offset projects in areas of global biodiversity significance, which achieve powerful community impacts.

3 How we work BCP s proven model keeps Zambian forests standing and brings benefits to communities and wildlife BioCarbon Partners (BCP) is a leading African-based forest carbon offset development company. Our vision is to conserve Africa s remaining ecosystems through powerful community impacts. We work hand in hand with local people to build strong relationships and develop long-term binding agreements. This helps to raise environmental awareness and sensitizes people to the importance of nature and wildlife protection. The sale of verified forest carbon offsets enables us to create new jobs, offer educational opportunities and improve healthcare in project areas while also conserving valuable habitat for wildlife. The research and technology used in the generation of these carbon offsets were made possible with funding by USAID through the Community Forests Program.

4 Our aim Creating a corridor In collaboration with the Zambian government and local communities, we aim to create a continuous transfrontier wildlife corridor that links protected areas from Zimbabwe, through Zambia and into Malawi. Our Luangwa Community Forests Project (LCFP) and Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project (LZRP) ensure vital ecological gaps between wildlife strongholds do not develop. While humans have historically divided land up through country borders and National Parks, this isolates wildlife populations, putting them at greater risk for extinction. African species still migrate through large landscapes in Sub-Saharan Africa. These landscapes are critical to the long-term survival of endangered species such as elephants, lions, and wild dogs to name a few. BCP s work aims to conserve the habitat and migration corridors that are essential to linking wildlife between protected areas. Our Zambia project area links two globally significant Transfrontier Conservation Areas Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools to Luangwa-Nyika and is critical to biodiversity connectivity for four countries: Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. LCFP and LZRP enable the community custodians of this land to conserve it as natural forest, protecting vital migration habitat, as well as reducing human-wildlife conflict.

5 Conservation Wildlife stronghold Nyika National Park MZTFCA Zambia North Luangwa National Park Chama Luangwa DRC South Luangwa National Park Luambe National Park Lukusuzi National Park MZTFCA Kasungu National Park Malawi Legend REDD Zones GMAs Transfrontier Conservation Areas Luangwa Community Forests Project National Parks Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project Zambezi Lower Zambezi National Park ZIMOSA TFCA Mozambique LZMP TFCA Mana Pools National Park Zimbabwe

6 Introducing Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project As the first REDD+ Project in Zambia, the Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project pioneered the development of sustainable conservation projects in the region. The conservation area covers 41,160 hectares of threatened Miombo woodland in Lusaka Province and acts as an important buffer zone to both the Lower Zambezi National Park and the adjacent Mana Pools National Park. As a transfrontier conservation zone, the area is of significant importance for the protection of biodiversity in southern Africa. Leopards, hippos and various rare species of antelope are among the many species found throughout Lower Zambezi, including an elephant population of around 23,000 animals. The area is also one of Africa s ten last lion strongholds.

7 Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project Project Activity The Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project acts as a model for the implementation of community-based REDD+ projects in Zambia. In cooperation with 5,031 local community members, it aims to establish improved and sustainable land use practices which conserve threatened forests and wildlife. To date, the project has reduced global carbon dioxide emissions by 943,469 tons through preservation of 24 million trees. This achievement is equivalent to removing 201,489 vehicles from the road for a year. The Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project was the first project in Africa, and second in the world, to achieve triple gold level validation with the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard for community level impacts.

8 The co-benefits of this project are supportive of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

9 Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project: Sustainable Development Goals explained How communities & wildlife benefit 5,031 community members are seeing their livelihoods improved by conserving the forests students are benefiting from investments in teachers salaries and housing, and from access to Environmental Education classes. US$ 500,000 in benefits have been invested in local community projects, enhancing infrastructure, education and health throughout the district. Community-based eco-charcoal project enables rural producers to supply the capital city with sustainable fuel. 67% of fresh running water in 28 villages has been provided through project funded boreholes. The project helps to avoid an estimated 187,143 tons of carbon emissions per year. The project incubates small businesses such as honey production through training and supplying sustainably built bee-hives. As a result, 80% of participants are benefitting from increased household income farmers trained in improved land use techniques that enhance crop yield and reduce the need to clear forest and relocate periodically. Lions, leopards, sable and other wildlife have access to a more secure habitat.

10 Under validation & verification Introducing Luangwa Community Forests Project The Luangwa River is a pivotal lifeline for some of the richest forest areas in the entirety of Africa. The wide valley is predominantly flat; only on its edges is the valley partly bounded by steep-sloping ridges. Not only does this particular topography present breathtaking beauty in the landscape, it also inhibits the migration of animals in the valley and thus keeps population density in the area high. The Luangwa Valley is home to elephants, leopards, lions and wild dogs. Many species such as the Cookson s wildebeest and the Thornicroft s giraffe are endemic to the Luangwa Valley.

11 Luangwa Community Forests Project Project Activities By protecting 1,023,460 hectares of forest, the Luangwa Community Forests Project is on its way to becoming one of the largest REDD+ projects in the world. It reduces emissions by approx. 700,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year and provides vital habitat protection for many endangered species. Furthermore, the Luangwa Community Forests Project works to address key drivers of deforestation as well as other important goals: reduce poverty, create sustainable incomes, improve social services and encourage conservation. At the same time, we protect critical areas of the Luangwa Valley ecosystem, which is home to many endangered species. In total, 165,955 people living in communities in the area benefit from the project activities. The Luangwa Community Forests Project is currently in the process of being verified under VCS and validated under the CCB standard. Creating a protective buffer The Luangwa Community Forests Project acts as an important protective buffer to the South Luangwa, Luambe and Lower Zambezi National Parks, providing additional safe habitat for wildlife. 18

12 The co-benefits of this project are supportive of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

13 Luangwa Community Forests Project: Sustainable Development Goals explained How communities & wildlife benefit 165,955 community members benefit from improved livelihood opportunities and community development funding. 1,023,460 hectares of natural forest are protected, avoiding significant carbon emissions through deforestation. 1,480 community members are trained in improved land use techniques which enhance crop yield, and reduce the need to clear forest and relocate periodically. Vital global migration habitat is protected across 12 chiefdoms, reducing human-wildlife conflict. Lions, leopards, sable and other wildlife have access to a more secure habitat. The project has linked 1,232 smallbusiness owners to new and expanded markets, increasing their income and diversifying local business. 82 local community and government institutions have been enhanced through governance and climate-change mitigation training.

14 Certified quality Leading verifications Our deforestation mitigation projects are verified to the highest standards in the global voluntary carbon market. The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is a global standard for the validation and verification of voluntary carbon emission reductions. Emissions reductions from VCS projects have to be real, measurable, permanent, additional, unique, transparent, and third-party verified. Assessed against the background of the total volume of emission reductions, VCS is the globally leading standard for voluntary carbon offsets. The Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards were launched in 2005 to foster development of and investment in site-based projects that deliver credible and significant climate, community and biodiversity benefits in an integrated, sustainable manner.

15 Personal stories Creating change is an exercise in education within this community. BCP s sensitization activities, combined with conservation fee investment in education facilities, are having a ripple effect here. Students are becoming more literate and environmentally aware, and, as they share this information with their parents, we are seeing increased willingness to try new innovations and alternative livelihood projects. Grace Kashiya District Forestry Officer, Rufunsa By investing in the land, the communities now receive conservation income, which in turn invests in the future of their families. It s a cycle of positive benefits. Jumbe chiefdom is benefitting greatly from BCP s activity in this area. Last year (2017) we received almost 40,000kwacha (US$4,000) in return for our conservation efforts. With this money we have been able to make improvements to our local mothers shelter and increase the student capacity of Kasinga community school. Masumba JJ Phiri Chairperson, Jumbe Chiefdom Community Resource Board (CRB) The year before, we used the money to construct three new boreholes for the community, which we are still benefiting from.

16 BioCarbon Partners Jumbe Trust Lodge Fwalu Village Chief Kakumbi Mfuwe/Zambia In co-operation with our sales & marketing partner: Green Energy, Climate Neutral, Water