FQM, STAKEHOLDERS ACT TO PROTECT WORLD’S UNIQUE FOREST, MAVUNDA
FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) and other partners have had a Zambian, John Muzenzi, sponsored to undergo training in the United States of America as Fire Marshal to control forest/bush fire in Mavunda, a type of forest only found in North-Western Province.
Mavunda is a unique worldwide forest because it is a “Dry Ever Green” Forest scientifically known as Cryptosepalum Forest.
The Forest was the hiding forest for Adamson Bratson Musanda Mushala, a Zambian insurgent who led a resistance movement against the One-Party State of President Kenneth Kaunda from 1975 until 1982 when he was killed by Zambia Army soldiers.
The Forest covers Chief Ntambu, Sailunga, Chibwika, Sikufele, Chizela and Matebo’s chiefdoms.
Senior Operations Manager at West Lunga Conservation Project, John Muzenzi, said the Forest had remained intact because chiefs had continued protecting it for decades, urging youths to protect it for future generations.
Mr. Muzenzi said the project is working closely with the government and traditional leaders in seven chiefdoms and the community to protect wildlife, rivers and forests.
This came to light at a traditional leaders’ caucus on ending forest fires, organised by the Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) in Solwezi.
Mr. Muzenzi said despite the forest being unique, it could be destroyed by fire outbreaks which President Hakainde Hichilema has spoken strongly against as the law prohibits uncontrolled bush fires.
He said West Lunga Conservation Project with support from FQM observed depletion of the West Lunga National Park and, therefore, increased the number of Community Game Scouts to protect the few animals that remained in Game Management Areas.
He disclosed that there were four elephants in West Lunga National Park before the West Lunga Conservation Project but the number has increased to over 100, following combined interventions.
“Elephants that felt threatened by poachers are now migrating from Kafue National Park to West Lunga National Park where they feel safer. The year 2022 recorded unprecedented fire which stakeholders failed to contain in game reserves and national parks threatening biodiversity and human life after killing a fiveyear-old child.”
“FQM therefore, sent me to America to learn how to control late bush fire to protect biodiversity and human life. West Lunga Conservation Project is now working closely with the Forestry Department and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in five districts to fight fire through community governance to stop burning forests after August,” Mr Muzenzi said.
Mr. Muzenzi said 31 Community Forest Managements Groups (CFMGs) have been formed working with Government and traditional leaders coupled with the formation of six Community Resource Boards.
“Community members committed to stopping bush fires if given Alternative Livelihoods prompting FQM and other stakeholders to assist them with beehives for beekeeping,” he said.
Mr. Muzenzi said FQM and the goodwill of other donors also established Community Game Reserves for community ownership and protection of which the number of animals has risen from 178 to over 400 protected in a fence by the community themselves.
And CEJ Head of Research and Studies, Freeman Mubanga, called for adoption of technology to monitor forests such as Remote Sensing and Real-time Monitoring Systems like the Global Forest Watch platform.
Among the chiefs in attendance was Dr. Chief Mumena of Kalumbila, Senior Chief Sailunga, Chief Kakoma (representative) as well as Chief Ntambu all from Mwinilunga.
Others were Chief Lumpuma of Lufwanyama, Chief Musaka, Chief Mulonga (representative), Senior Chief Kalilele (representative) and Chieftainess Chikola of Mushindamo and Chief Kapijimpanga (representative) of Solwezi.