Luangwa valley settlers in K50m windfall

…forest conservation bears fruit

TWELVE communities in the Luangwa valley are benefitting from direct cash payments of K50 million (US$2.3 million) following their partnership with forest conservation business, BioCarbon Partners (BCP).

The public-private-community projects set a new standard in forest conservation that puts the nation at the forefront of global efforts to combat climate change, while protecting forest resources and creating livelihood opportunities for local people.

BCP Chief Executive Officer, Hassan Sachedina, said his company was complementing Government and community efforts to conserve the Luangwa-Lower Zambezi ecosystem.

Dr Sachedina said this was just the beginning of a long-term, self-sustainable conservation model which benefitted communities and wildlife.

“This has been a tough year due to the pandemic; tourism and conservation funding have declined, but through the extraordinary efforts of our partners such as Forestry Department, the LCFP has channelled K50 million into communities in 2020. We are grateful for USAID backing the LCFP’s development,” he said.

BCP is a leading African conservation social enterprise with a mission to make wildlife habitat conservation valuable to people.

Chief Bunda Bunda, said his community had worked towards the Lower Zambezi and verification success for Zambia.

“We thank the government for helping our Chiefdom to access REDD+ benefits and to BCP for the partnership, which has increased employment, livelihoods and development projects,” the chief said.

BCP employs over 160 people across 13 chiefdoms in Zambia, partnering to help conserve one million hectares of habitat in critical ecosystems.