Environmental policy and administrative management

The project Community Based Natural Resource Management through Environmental Rehabilitation, Desertification Control for Sustainable Livelihoods and Reduced Vulnerability for Rural Communities in Chipata District is emerging from the under utilization of the abundant natural resources potential by local communities. Furthermore, these resources are under severe pressure from local communities who exploit the resources at the expense of conservation. This pressure is partly caused by high levels of poverty that exists and lack of adequate natural resource management information. The government of Zambia s great challenge is to reduce poverty and at the same time manage the natural resources on sustainable basis as contained in the Vision 2030, 5th National Development Plan and attainment of the MDGs. Because of its richness in natural resources, our district offers the answer to poverty reduction and economic growth for the poor and marginalized people. The use of environmentally friendly practices such as agroforestly, water and soil conservation, tree planting for fuel wood and fruits are potentially, very important interventions for national development in order to improve social and economic welfare of the inhabitants of the province. However, the potential of natural resource management has not been fully exploited due to inadequate investment in the agroforestly sector. Objectives of the Project To promote alternative sources of livelihoods to reduce vulnerability to climate change through support to women s land use and rights through increased food security in 10 rural communities of Chipata district by end of project. This will also empower groups through trainings, environmentally friendly practices and field work demonstrations. The Primary objectives are; 1. To support the women s in arresting land degradation which comes by through deforestation and soil erosions; 2. To increase food security and improve livelihoods through environmentally friendly practices focusing on rain fed agroforestly, conservation farming and cash crop production; 3. To encourage the use of integrated organic farming in order to reduce on the use of chemical fertilizer; 4. To encourage water management and harvesting by minimizing evaporation and run-offs thereby increasing holding capacity of the soil. 5. To strengthen capacity of DLA to enable it meet expectations of groups through providing related information for use by women and other community members

Zambia