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Zambia and France have entered into an agreement on forestry management, with the French government committing €1.46 million to the initiative.
Green Economy and Environment Minister, Mike Mposha, announced that the agreement aimed to improve forestry policy and ensure the sustainable management of forest resources.
Speaking in Lusaka on Monday, during a courtesy call from a delegation from the French Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs, Mposha said the agreement would facilitate the implementation of diverse forest-related ecosystem services, leading to socio-economic benefits for forest-dependent communities and increased resilience to climate change.
“The French Development Agency (AFD) is expected to lead this important exercise through the implementation of a comprehensive forest inventory design and by sharing its long-lasting expertise with the Ministry,” Mposha stated.
He mentioned that the Ministry had approved the international expert recruited through AFD France and appointed a steering committee and technical working group to guide the project.
Mposha assured that the Ministry would focus on mainstreaming the Green Growth Agenda into Zambia’s National Development Plans, policies and programmes at all levels.
He also highlighted the establishment of effective accountability frameworks to ensure the successful implementation of agreed milestones.
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Mposha noted that Zambia faced several climate change and environmental challenges, including land degradation, biodiversity loss, deforestation, air pollution, flooding, and drought.
“These challenges have been exerted in a manner that has led to the unsustainable utilisation of the country’s natural resources, thereby limiting the actual possibility of attaining sustainable development,” he said.
He recalled the joint declaration of intent signed by Zambia and France on December 18, 2023, which set the foundation for enhanced collaboration in key areas such as food security, water sanitation, and sustainable forestry management.
Mposha expressed appreciation for the Capacity Building Fund of €90,000 approved for the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO), which would enable a comprehensive forest inventory to quantify the availability and quality of wood in pine plantations.
French Ambassador to Zambia, Thomas Rossignol, stated the importance of partnerships to address climate change, stating, “France is ready to work with Zambia in various sectors.”
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