Environmental research

1.0. Project Summary. Deforestation and forest degradation has become a major source of concern in Monze district. Deforestation is currently taking place in Monze West were there are still trees meanwhile there is no deforestation going on in the other parts of the district because trees have been depreciated many years ago. With resources made available there is need to reforest Monze district as a whole. Rationale/justification for the project: There is need for an immediate intervention on the deforestation going on if allowed to continue the district will be without trees. A survey conducted by the Forestry Department has shown that charcoal burning has become a major contributor to deforestation and forest degradation in the district. There are many factors that are promoting mass charcoal production in the district as out lined below; i. High poverty levels among the rural communities. Charcoal burning has become one of major source of livelihoods among the rural people as they are able to earn income from it throughout the year. Income earned from other livelihoods is not enough to sustain their daily needs throughout the year. ii. High demand for charcoal by urban dwellers. Demand for charcoal by urban dwellers is also a major contributing factor in charcoal production. The high demand for charcoal has been necessitated by high ZESCO tariff and load shading which is currently going on. iii. Lack of alternative sources of energy. Lack of alternative sources of energy to hydro power and wood fuel, people in urban and rural areas are left with no alternative but to depend on wood fuel in form of charcoal and fire wood respectively. The project will advocate for reduced tax on importation of solar equipment and in turn promote use of stove, fridge, geyser that are powered by solar energy. The move would reduce charcoal consumption among urban dweller. The Project will not only address deforestation in the district it will also address the need for rural people to adapt to effects of climate change. While crops easily get affected by floods and droughts, forestry do not. Benefits of forestry farming are in two fold. Firstly income earned from sale of timber will stimulate forest farming which in turn will result into reforestation of the district and secondly, income earned from sale of timber will contribute to poverty alleviation among the rural poor. Project location and a profile of the project sites. i. Project location; Project location shall be in Monze District. ii. Profile of the project sites; Project sites shall be in rural areas of Monze district. A minimum of 15 small farmers groups comprising at least 10 farmers each are been formed. A minimum of 150 farmers each cultivating a hectare, a minimum of 75 hectares will be cultivated in the first year. Our target in the first year is 11,250 plants. 1.1 ABOUT THE NGO Attitude Change Programme is a non-governmental organization (NGO), registered with PACRA as a company limited by guarantee on 29th August 2008 and whose registration # is 74599. Attitude Change Programme exists to contribute to poverty alleviation among rural poor. And core activities include the following; i. Sensitization of rural poor on the need for diversification of crops and livestock. ii. Sensitization of rural poor on the need to adopt business approach in all their agricultural livelihoods. iii. Promotion of pig, goat, chicken and gardening with business/profit approach. iv. Sensitization of rural poor on global warming and its effects and the need to adapt to effects of climate. v. Integration of forestry farming in agricultural livelihood. The organization works with farmer groups in the identified communities and shall comprise of implementing team. Attitude Change Programme has been in existence since 29th August 2008 and since last year Attitude Change Programme has prepared adequately by consulting the Forestry Departments at the Province and District in Choma and Monze respectively. Attitude Change Programme is run by a Board of Directors and it comprises of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Treasurer and two committee members. The Board meets quarterly. On management the Board has provided for the following positions; Projects Coordinator, Accountant, Project Officer and Administrative Officer Membership is be drawn from farmer groups and Co-operatives. The Project also works with individual farmers interested to integrate forestry farming in their agricultural livelihood. 2.0 Project s main objective 2.1 To promote integration of forestry farming in agricultural livelihood. 3.0 Specific Objectives 3.1 To promote awareness among rural communities on global warming, its effects and the role forestry play in mitigating effects of climate change. 3.2 To promote tree planting. 3.3 To promote energy efficiency braziers and brick made stove. 3.4 To Lobbying government for tax relief on importation of solar equipment. 4. Key project outcomes 4.1 Minimum of 100 hectares reforested 4.2 Members of the community reduce unnecessary cutting down of trees and instead go into tree planting. 4.3 Members of the community start using locally made and low cost energy saving stoves and help reduce on the amount of firewood required. 4.4 Regeneration of vegetation and increased area under forest cover. 4.5 Re-enforcement of community laws by the traditional leaders that help preserve natural forests. 4.6 Improved self-regulation of environmental friendly income generation

Zambia