Group partners Copperbelt University to restore 2 million hectares of degraded farmland

World Vision Zambia (WVZ) has entered into an agreement with Copperbelt University (CBU) under the Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) project.

The collaboration aims to restore 2 million hectares of degraded land, addressing global environmental challenges.

During the signing ceremony held at CBU’s main campus in Kitwe, Ekwase M’soni, WVZ’s Strategy, Impact, and Learning Director, underscored the urgency of tackling global warming.

“FMNR is a core model that World Vision Zambia is using through its sustainable land restoration project to restore degraded landscapes and contribute to the global goal of restoring one billion hectares of land,” M’soni said.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlined that WVZ and CBU would work together to restore degraded landscapes, improve soil health, and enhance biodiversity—key components in combating deforestation and habitat loss.

M’soni described the MoU as a significant milestone, offering both parties an opportunity to share experiences and generate evidence around FMNR research.

This collaboration aimed to produce robust evidence on the efficacy of FMNR as a restoration technique and build household resilience against climate change.

Globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Global Forest Assessment of 2020 reported that approximately 420 million hectares of forest were deforested and converted to other land uses between 1990 and 2020.

M’soni warned that without collaborative action, the cycle of deforestation and land degradation would persist.

CBU Vice Chancellor Imasiku Nyambe stated that CBU would provide technical expertise, support capacity-building initiatives, and collaborate on meaningful research.

Dean Felix Kalaba of CBU’s School of Natural Resources stated that FMNR was a powerful approach that empowered farmers to restore degraded landscapes.

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