WeForest - 2021 in numbers

Published on 8 June 2022

About WeForest and Zambia Copperfield

Land degradation and soil erosion have become widespread and result primarily from the increasing population and the pressure it places on land through poor agricultural practices and other social-economic activities. In return for agreeing to restore and protect native miombo woodland and harvest sustainably, farmers in our Copperbelt: Forests on Farms project are provided with the training and tools they need to diversify into forest-friendly activities such as sustainable bioenergy, fruit, and honey production.

In 2021, the target of restoring 3.000 ha in Luanshya was reached. The project was further extended to Mpongwe and Ndola. Consequently, 2021 was devoted to setting up the project's activities in new districts. Offices were set up in Mpongwe, and a socio-economic baseline survey of households was conducted in both Mpongwe and Ndola. The first steps were made to prepare for the development of a stakeholder engagement plan, including engaging five chiefs, and WeForest signed agreements with the Mpongwe District Farmers Association, Chinchi Women Farmer Association, and BirdWatch Zambia.

2021 in numbers

124,89 ha of new Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) plots established on farms in Mpongwe with 62 farmers, representing over 149 000 trees being protected and regenerated.

ANR plots range from 0.57 ha to 8 ha. The average is 3,2 ha per farm, representing over 3.800 trees per farmer.

650 new beehives were distributed to 70 farmers in Mpongwe. 1.760 beehives were harvested.

Since the project began: 3.265 ha is under restoration, representing 3,9 million trees. The goal is to eventually restore up to 7.000 ha - that's 8,3 million trees.

18 native tree species regenerating.

Over 2.800 households directly benefiting from the project.

Over 4.500 beehives in operation.

What's next?

100 farmers belonging to the Mpongwe District Farmers' Association (DFA) are expected to join the restoration programme with an anticipated average of 5 ha per farmer.
1250 beehives will be installed in approximately 625 ha of ANR plots for these 125 newly trained farmers.
The Imanda Community Forest project will be established.
Capacity-building workshops for the farmer associations will be conducted, with a focus on planning, governance, communication, financial management, sustainable forest management and livelihood skills.
Farmers' Associations will be supported to coordinate the harvesting and marketing of 25 000 kg of honey across all three districts in the two harvests of 2022, with the aim of raising 393 750 ZMK, or US$36 per farmer.
Agroforestry programme to be scaled up with seed nurseries managed by the Farmers' Associations.
Feedback meeting sessions with the traditional leadership in the respective operational areas will be held.
Jointly with the DFA, we will take part in a community radio awareness programme on farm-based sustainable forest management and ANR practices.
A baseline survey for the irrigated vegetable garden pilot project will be conducted, and 50 treadle pumps will be distributed to the selected farmers.

Together for a better future!

For every order placed with us, we plant one tree together with WeForest. We are proud that we can contribute to a better climate, more fauna and flora and improve people's living conditions.

In other words: the more orders you place with us, the more trees are planted!

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