© FAO / Wesley Jonathan Roberts
Zambia is taking significant steps toward enhancing the sustainability and conservation of its forests, addressing a decades-long need to update district forest management plans.
These efforts began in the Northwestern province, specifically in the forest-rich Manyinga District, a home to the Cryptosepalum forest - locally known as 'Mavunda'- which is considered the largest tropical evergreen forest outside the equatorial zone.
This forest plays a crucial role in supporting local livelihoods by providing resources such as timber, firewood, construction materials, wild fruits, and honey. However, without a sustainable forest management plan that unites and aligns the objectives and interests of the district’s multiple forestry actors, these forests remain at risk.
Forest management plans are essential tools that contribute to the responsible use of forest resources, guiding conservation efforts and fostering collaboration among all actors involved, including government, the private sector and local communities. These plans provide a structured approach to balancing economic, environmental and social priorities to ensure forests continue to provide vital services for future generations.
To be truly effective, forest management plans must be informed by accurate, locally relevant data. The Forestry Department of Zambia, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through the UN-REDD Programme and the affiliated AIM4Forests Initiative, is working on district-level forest data collection, strengthening the foundation for informed decision-making, making forest information more relevant and actionable for those directly managing forest lands.
This localized approach enhances the ability of forestry officers and district authorities to develop management plans that reflect the realities on the ground, ultimately leading to more sustainable and responsive forest governance.
As part of these efforts, forestry officers at the national, provincial, and district levels are receiving training in forest inventories for field data collection.
Strengthening capacities on inventory of district forests
An interactive five-day training on forest inventories and field data collection was organized in July last year, bringing together 29 Officers from the Forestry Department and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. To support a future rollout, participants included representatives from all districts across the North-Western Province, including Chavuma, Ikelenge, Kabompo, Kalumbila, Kasempa, Manyinga, Mufumbwe, Mushindamo, Mwinilunga, Solwezi, and Zambezi.
The training, structured into three days of classroom-based learning and two days of field exercises, enabled participants to gain hands-on experience in tree species identification, GPS navigation, and data collection techniques. The participants were introduced to advanced tools such as hypsometers and transponders, and how to transition to digital data collection using mobile tablets. All are significant steps toward modernizing forest monitoring.
Fieldwork in Manyinga’s forests
Following the five-day training, officers put their newly acquired skills into practice and embarked in a three-week field inventory in Manyinga District from 13 July to 3 August 2024. Field teams covered various sites, often camping in the field and relying on borehole water.
© FAO / Wesley Jonathan Roberts
The fieldwork provided a valuable learning experience, challenging officers to apply their newly acquired technical skills while addressing logistical and environmental obstacles. Field teams faced vehicle breakdowns, trekked up to 20 kilometers on foot, navigated the thick Mavunda forests and even encountered bees, adding an element of adventure to the rigorous data collection process.
Yet, their determination never wavered. Each challenge became an opportunity to learn, adapt, and refine their approach. Over three weeks, they successfully assessed a grand total of 44 clusters — each consisting of three plots — with only one proving too difficult to access due to sandy terrain. Their ability to persevere under such demanding conditions highlighted their growing expertise and commitment to take care of Zambia’s forests.Before beginning their fieldwork, the teams engaged with local authorities to inform them about the forest inventory’s purpose. Despite these efforts, their presence received mixed reactions, particularly from artisanal loggers, underscoring the need for the Forestry Department to actively engage with all forestry stakeholders in each district.
The field teams included members of local communities, who provided essential support with logistics, navigation, and species identification. In some areas, they were assisted by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and accompanied by an armed escort for security.
© FAO / Wesley Jonathan Roberts
Data to strengthen forest governance
The successful completion of the pilot inventory in Manyinga district is an important step toward improving forest management and data-driven decision-making by the Forestry Department. For instance, the data collected will contribute to a preliminary Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) report for Pterocarpus (mukwa and mukula) species, supporting regulatory efforts to address timber concessions in the district. The Forestry Department also aims to replicate the same activities in all other districts of the North Western province.
Looking ahead, the data will contribute to the development of updated district forest management plan to ensure that Manyinga’s forests continue to play their vital role for both people and the planet.
© FAO / Wesley Jonathan Roberts
