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At BCP we understand that in order to address deforestation, we have to look deeper and tackle the root causes linked to the economic and social reasons behind deforestation through a credible form of conservation finance.
Under the REDD+ initiative model, across both the LZRP and LCFP a total of 230,705 people are benefiting, and the livelihoods of over 48,516 households are being strengthened through direct payments to communities from revenue from forest carbon fees, employment, and livelihood support.
Forest Carbon Fees are performance-based payments given to communities that have identified and are committed to protecting areas of forest. Through our partnership with the Forestry Department and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, these payments benefit the whole community. Projects are chosen through an open, transparent, and participatory process and have included boreholes and even a hammermill.
$10,000,000
Total Community Investment since Inception
$2,300,000
Invested in Livelihood Projects since inception
Opportunities for formal employment are rare in the rural areas where we work. This is why we provide direct opportunities for employment for people to protect their environment. We hire and train people locally for our Community Engagement Conservation, Forest Monitoring, and Community Scout Team, as well as operational support positions.
147
People hired from the local community and employed by BCP
2000+
Income-generating opportunities created as a result of REDD+ projects and initiatives at a Chiefdom level.
11,585
Female Headed households directly benefiting under REDD+ initiative
“Before we partnered with BCP under the LCFP, our community was left wanting in terms of development. But now we have used the revenue from the forest carbon fees to invest in infrastructure projects in the community, such as Sandwe Primary School, it was extremely dilapidated, but we used the forest carbon fees to renovate it, which has increased enrolment, especially among female students. We have sunk a number of boreholes, which has made access to clean water readily available. While we have also invested in the rehabilitation of health centers. Seeing these life-changing impacts has changed the mindset of the community members, previously there were many farmers scattered in the forests, but after conducting sensitization meetings and for these farmers to see the impacts, there are fewer turns to such harmful methods of farming as they see value in conserving the forests”.
His Royal Highness, Chief Sandwe.
Delivering life-changing impacts through WASH, Education, and Healthcare Facilities projects
Using the funds from forest carbon fees, local Community Forest Management Groups (CFMGs) allocate funding and invest in projects that their communities need the most. This revenue stream brings life-changing investments to communities to increase access to healthcare, sanitation, education, and infrastructure projects. This includes everything from boreholes to clinics and even a boat.
240
Community Projects
162
Livelihood Projects
161
WASH Projects Created and Boreholes Sunk.
39
Education related projects built since inception
16
Clinics or healthcare facilities built
49
Social Projects implemented across both Projects since inception
3,241
Number of community members who have improved skills and/or knowledge from training provided as part of project activities
19
Hammermills funded by Climate Finance
44
Village Banking Groups
24
Goat Rearing Groups
9
Poultry Farming Groups
Deforestation is a global problem that accounts for an estimated 11% of the world’s emissions. Zambia’s deforestation is one of the highest in the world. Zambia loses forest four times the size of New York City to deforestation every year. That’s an average of 300,000 hectares of valuable wildlife habitat disappearing annually, mainly driven by unsustainable farming techniques and charcoal production. Globally, it is estimated that 23% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry, and other land use.
Benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture:
1. Improved soil nutrition
2. Increases the soil organic carbon pool over time
3. Promotes improved yields using far less land.
522
Lead Farmers trained in Climate-Smart Agriculture
200
Female Lead Farmers
5000
Hectares of farm land under sustainable agriculture farming techniques
100944
Gliricidia Sepium trees planted since inception
1756
Farmer demo packs distributed in 2022
140
Farmers trained in Horticulture
56
Of Horticulture Farmers are Women
Beekeeping has been a livelihood in Zambia for centuries through the use of traditional bark beehives and hunting for wild honey. But with the increasing growth in the market for Zambian honey, these techniques are becoming more and more destructive to rural Zambian ecosystems.
Communities enter Game Management Areas (GMAs) in order to cut trees for wild honey or strip trees of their bark in order to construct bark beehives. These methods are not sustainable, which is why BCP has partnered with Nature’s Nectar, a social enterprise aiming at producing Zambia’s most sustainable honey with communities living directly near conservation areas and national parks.
1493
Beekeepers
497
Female Beekeepers
13,705
Beehives distributed since inception of the Initiative
The demand for charcoal is a major cause of deforestation in Zambia. BCP Trust created Eco-Charcoal in response to this clear need to create a legal, sustainable alternative product for the market. Probably the best Eco-Charcoal in the world: Eco-Charcoal is Zambia’s premium lumpwood charcoal which is sustainably produced to protect Zambian forests. It is 100% pure and natural and burns 20% longer than regular charcoal. It is produced using a modern method that reduces harmful smoke and emissions during use, which reduces the risk of harmful inhalation by its users. Eco-Charcoal currently partners with 11 trained community producers we call “Charpreneurs” in a bid to provide fair and safe employment for rural Zambians.
190.72 Hectares
Under Eco-Charcoal Production in LZRP
11 Chapreneurs
Trained in sustainable charcoal production
48.64 Tons
Of Eco-Charcoal purchased from Charpreneurs in 2021
