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Miombo Belt Regeneration
Miombo Belt Regeneration
Mafinga Hills,
Zambia
Forest restoration for nature, water and people
0 ha

under restoration

0

trees growing

0

species regenerating

0

families engaged

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individuals trained

A mix of wet and dry miombo forests, along with montane grasslands, create an exceptional ecosystem in north-east Zambia’s majestic Mafinga Hills. 

Despite not witnessing significant deforestation, the practice of chitemene, or slash-and-burn agriculture, poses a danger here, particularly within the National Forest Reserve and along the rivers.

The project aims to restore this vital forest landscape surrounding and including the Mafinga Hills by setting up a community forest covering 1500 ha in the Mwenechifungwe Chiefdom.

Why and how we’re working here

Montane and riverine forest patches are degrading, and man-made fires from illegal activities on the plateau are impacting biodiversity and reducing the ability of soils to retain water.
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Latest project updates

Location

Muchinga province, northeast Zambia

Restoration approaches

Assisted Natural Regeneration; agroforestry (agrisilvicultural systems)

restoration partners

The Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ)

Fauna Species

Blue Swallow; African Crowned Eagle; Nchisi Pygmy Chameleon

FLORA Species

Four known endemic and five near-endemic species

The project’s impact on people and nature

Our restoration here will safeguard the water catchment of the Luangwa River, protect the biodiversity of the Mafinga massif and the Luangwa valley, and ensure that the farming communities neighbouring the massif have an increased resilience to climate change.
The source of the mighty Luangwa River, an essential watershed for the farming and fishing communities downstream, lies in the Mafinga Hills. This montane area stretches over 12,000 ha and incorporates parts of a National Forest Reserve. © Ruben Foquet, WeForest
Animals that call this biodiversity hotspot home include samango monkeys, vervet monkeys, yellow baboons, side-striped jackals, spotted hyenas, wild cats, servals and leopards. Many large mammals are no longer present, however. © Ruben Foquet, WeForest
Deforestation here is driven by agricultural expansion, chitemene (slash-and-burn agriculture), uncontrolled bush fires, timber logging and the collection of firewood. © Ruben Foquet, WeForest
Protecting the forest and stopping the chitemene (pictured) requires improved governance and more sustainable farming approaches, as well as the development of alternative income sources for those who depend on the forest. © Ruben Foquet, WeForest
In the first phase of the project, a community forest covering approximately 1500 ha is being set up in the Mwenechifungwe Chiefdom. Communities are keen on building landscape solutions, and village headmen have welcomed the concept of the community forest shared between Inzinza and Mariko villages. © Ruben Foquet, WeForest
To increase the well-being and climate resilience of the farming communities neighbouring the massif, we will develop and diversify alternative livelihoods, potentially including beekeeping and/or poultry. © Ruben Foquet, WeForest
The project will also introduce and optimize sustainable agricultural production, exploring native conservation agricultural techniques (for example in-field composting and crop rotation) to shift away from destructive chitemene millet farming. © Ruben Foquet, WeForest
To ensure good forest stewardship in the project area in the long term, the project will design an FLR Plan which includes strengthening the technical and financial capacity of WECSZ to permanently oversee and safeguard the socio-economic and agro-environmental future of this landscape. © Ruben Foquet, WeForest

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Who’s funding the Mafinga Hills project?
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Progress reports

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