By 
More than US$ 4.8 million has been disbursed in the last seven years to Zambia’s communities in recognition for their conservation efforts and reduced carbon emissions.
With the carbon project launched in 2015 by Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) with the support from the Zambian government and cooperating partners, about nine Chiefdom or areas have so far benefited from this project.
Read more : COMACO aiding wildlife conservation, as poachers turn beekeepers; 20,000 farmers to benefit from scheme
In 2022, a total of US$3,149,597 was paid to nine Chiefdom areas who had managed to keep their customary land protected from destructive practices.
These Chiefdom areas include Magodi, Zumwanda, Chikomeni, Mwasemphangwe, Nyamphande, Chikulwe, Jumbe,Mwape and Luembe of Eastern Province.
According to COMACO, the carbon project was based on the Sustainable Agriculture Land Management and Community forestry management practices it promotes among the rural communities.
It stated that these practices are meant to improve climate resilience of crops, improve quality of soils and crops yields
In an interview, Senior Chief Luembe of the Nsenga speaking people of Nyimba District on Wednesday said the carbon project was being implemented to bring down the deforestation rate in his Chiefdom and protect wildlife.
He said they have adopted sustainable farming methods and reduced wasteful cutting down of the trees since the project was launched some time back.
As one of the beneficiary of the carbon fund, Senior Chief Luembe said he was always preaching against the discriminatory cutting of trees as well as charcoal burning in his Chiefdom.
He explained that from the funds received, they have constructed health and educational facilities, thereby improving the wellbeing of his community.
A total of US$385,778 was disbursed to Luembe Chiefdom of Nyimba District in 2022 for their efforts in reducing the carbon emission.
“We have 15,000 hectares of land under the COMACO conservation and we are also doing similar programme with others. The money we have collected from the carbon fund we have built schools, clinics, improved the living standards of our people.
“Annually we empower our people with seeds, knowledge on how to improve conservation farming so I have personally seen an improvement in the living standards of our people,” he said.
Senior Chief Luembe said people were abiding to the rules set out but started that they are having problems with the encroachers as they do not understand the benefits of carbon trading.
He said these people have continued to cut down trees and are conducting charcoal burning, which he said measures have been put in place to ensure that anyone involved in charcoal burning was brought to book.
Senior Chief Luembe said conservation farming was key to achieving sustainable agriculture.
He said his Chiefdom had adopted the planting of the Gliricidia sepium because it provides key nutrients to the soils and thereby producing chemical free food.
With the Gliricidia tree, farmers can replace the need for expensive, emission causing fertilizers, giving farmers increased agriculture productivity and income.
Therefore, COMACO disbursed a total of US$515,268 under its first payment, followed by US$1,188,739 and US$3,149,597.
From the inception, the annual rate of deforestation in these regions has reduced from three percent to 2.1 percent.
The project among others aim to contribute to net zero emission, sustainable use of natural resources, reduced poverty/improved livelihoods.
This would also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Zambia’s 2030 vision.
Comments