Ministry of Green Economy and Environment
Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme-EP-JSLP
PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Release)
EASTERN PROVINCE UNITES GOVERNMENT, CHIEFS, AND STAKEHOLDERS TO SAFEGUARD AND RESTORE LUNDAZI NATIONAL
Chipata, Zambia, 04 January 2025-The Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Mr. Paul Thole, has led a high-level stakeholder engagement in Lundazi District aimed at strengthening the management, restoration, and protection of Lundazi National Forest and other protected areas under the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme-EP-JSLP.
The visit brought together key stakeholders, including the acting Director of Forestry at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Dr. Freddie Siangulube; Eastern Province Assistant Secretary, Mr. Clement Chilembo; Lundazi District Commissioner, Ms. Marjory Banda; officials from the EP-JSLP Project Implementation Unit; the Forestry Department; the Tobacco Board of Zambia-TBZ; Community Markets for Conservation-COMACO; BioCarbon Partners (BCP); and other public and private sector partners.
The mission supported a series of engagements to build consensus and develop a clear roadmap for the protection and restoration of Lundazi National Forest.
These efforts are intended to reduce emissions arising from forest degradation and deforestation while safeguarding vital forest resources and strengthening climate change mitigation efforts in Eastern Province.
During the visit, the delegation highlighted the growing challenge of forest degradation and loss and engaged stakeholders on practical strategies to reverse these trends.
The programme included individual meetings with traditional leaders surrounding Lundazi National Forest, with the participation of the Provincial Permanent Secretary and District Commissioners from Lundazi and Lumezi Districts, aimed at promoting community ownership and leadership in forest protection initiatives.
The team, led by Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Mr. Paul Thole, also held site and indoor meetings with private sector actors interested in shared management of protected forest areas in partnership with local communities and the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
As part of strengthening coordination at district level, the Permanent Secretary and his entourage paid a courtesy call on Lundazi District Commissioner, Ms. Marjory Banda, ahead of a joint field mission where he reaffirmed government commitment working with line ministries, partners and other stakeholder to ensure that the Lundazi national Forest is restored.
“The Government remains committed to working with line ministries, cooperating partners, traditional leaders, and communities to ensure that the Lundazi National Forest is restored and sustainably managed.” Mr. Thole said.
Later, the Permanent Secretary and his entourage paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Mwase to brief him on the EP-JSLP, with strategies focused on forest restoration, sustainable land use, and climate change mitigation.
Mr. Thole revealed that the mission sought to secure approval for partnership and restoration arrangements for Lundazi National Forest in line with Zambia’s legal framework and with the full involvement of key stakeholders.
The programme is implemented by the Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, under the Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme-EP-JSLP with support from the World Bank, to address forest loss and land degradation in Eastern Province.
The team that accompanied the Permanent Secretary continued with site visits to Lundazi National Forest to assess the extent of unsustainable practices and community encroachment.
The delegation, headed by acting Director Forestry from the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Dr. Freddie Siangulube, alongside Mr. Clement Chilembo; with other partners, paid a courtesy call on Chief Kazembe of the Chewa people in Lumezi District.
Chief Kazembe expressed concern over increasing deforestation in Lundazi National Forest and attributed it largely to unsustainable tobacco production methods, particularly the curing of Virginia tobacco which requires large quantities of firewood.
“The continued loss of forest cover is worrying, especially due to firewood demand for tobacco curing. As traditional leaders, we must work closely with government and partners to protect this important forest reserve,” said Chief Kazembe.
The traditional leader further pledged to work closely with Government and cooperating partners to preserve key forest reserves.
The entourage also paid a courtesy call on Chief Zumwanda of the Chewa people in Lumezi District, who called upon the Forestry Department to work closely with traditional leaders to strengthen forest conservation efforts.
“Traditional leaders are ready to support conservation efforts, but closer collaboration is needed to address forest encroachment, charcoal production, and unsustainable land-use practices,” said Chief Zumwanda.
In response, acting Director of Forestry Dr. Freddie Siangulube explained the objective of the field mission and emphasized the importance of the collaborative approach under the EP-JSLP.
“This mission is about bringing all stakeholders together to promote sustainable agricultural practices, clarify roles and responsibilities, and identify lasting solutions to protect the threatened Lundazi National Forest,” Dr. Siangulube said.
The team later paid a courtesy call on Chief Chikomeni of the Chewa-speaking people as part of the continued forest management mission in Lundazi and Lumezi Districts.
Chief Chikomeni reaffirmed his commitment to conservation and noted a significant reduction in charcoal production within his chiefdom.
“Through awareness among my headmen and subjects, charcoal production has reduced by about 90 percent. However, alternative livelihoods are needed for those living and farming within the forest area,” said Chief Chikomeni.
He proposed beekeeping and other sustainable income-generating activities as viable alternatives to charcoal production.
Responding, Dr. Siangulube acknowledged the proposal and expressed Government’s willingness to support such initiatives.
“Government is ready to work closely with traditional leaders to explore beekeeping, climate-smart agriculture, and other interventions that reduce pressure on forest resources,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eastern Province Assistant Secretary Mr. Clement Chilembo commended Chief Chikomeni for his leadership and continued support of Government programmes.
“Chief Chikomeni has demonstrated exemplary leadership and has been instrumental in the development of his chiefdom. His commitment is a model for other traditional leaders,” Mr. Chilembo said.
Following the conclusion of field engagements in Lundazi and Lumezi Districts, the mission team held a wrap-up meeting to chart the way forward for the sustainable management of Lundazi National Forest.
The meeting, held at Protea Hotel in Chipata under the EP-JSLP, was graced by Mr. Clement Chilembo, representing the Permanent Secretary.
Mr. Chilembo applauded participants from Government institutions and cooperating partners for developing practical recommendations to address challenges facing Lundazi National Forest.
“The recommendations developed here reflect our collective commitment to safeguarding Lundazi National Forest for present and future generations,” he said.
The meeting brought together key institutions that made presentations on forest governance, conservation financing, and community engagement, including BCP, COMACO, TBZ, Public-Private Partnership partners, ZEMA, DNPW, and the EP-JSLP.
Their presentations informed discussions and contributed to the agreed recommendations for the Lundazi National Forest Restoration Mission.
Issued by:
Creavat Chituta (Mr)
Communications Officer
Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Programme-EPJSLP
Ministry of Green Economy and Environment
Email: Creavat.Chituta@epjslp.org.zm
Mobile:+260977471376