- Project name
- Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project
- Project location
- Lusaka Province, Zambia
- Funder and supplier
- BioCarbon Partners
- VCS and CCB Triple Gold
- Project status
All project information is sourced from the supplier – correct as of July 2018
About the project
The project aims to protect the Rufunsa Conservancy, a 41,160-hectare area adjacent to the Lower Zambezi National Park. The project area remains one of the last intact areas of forest in Lusaka Province and provides a 60 kilometre buffer to the Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP), a strategically protected area in Zambia in a globally significant trans-frontier conservation area.
The total emission reductions from the LZRP project area are estimated to be on average 187,144 tonnes of CO2e per year over the selected 30-year crediting period.
How does the project contribute to carbon reduction?
Deforestation is driven by charcoal production and the expansion of farmlands by residents. It is estimated that 53% of Lusaka’s annual charcoal supply originates from the project’s location. The project zone is home to approximately 8,300 people, living in 28 villages, spread within four community zones.
The project is reducing deforestation by implementing community-based projects that aim to reduce local dependency on deforestation, improve local livelihoods and resiliency, as well as implementing land management systems such as resources, fire management and biodiversity monitoring.
Who is behind the project?
BioCarbon Partners (BCP) is an African-headquartered, focused and majority African-owned social enterprise that develops and manages long-term forest carbon projects in globally significant and biodiverse landscapes in Africa. The project has received the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which has invested $14 million in start-up financing with BCP through the Community Forests Program (CFP), to establish verifiable REDD+ activities across 1,064,620 hectares and impacting 120,000 people in Eastern and Lusaka Provinces. The USAID funded Community Forests Program also supports a variety of community-based deforestation mitigation activities to be implemented by BCP throughout the project areas.
The project supported the Forestry Department to double the size of its existing tree nursey and modernize it. Farmers are now able to access seedlings for a variety of different types of trees including fruit trees and trees for use in Conservation Farming.
- The total emission reductions from the LZRP project are estimated to be on average 187,144 tonnes of CO2e per year over the selected 30-year crediting period.
- Approximately 8,300 people have participated in sensitization activities to raise awareness within the local community about local environmental issues and the positive impacts of the REDD+.
- Through the 2017 Revenue Share from the sale of Forest Carbon Offsets $60,000 USD was directly invested into the LZRP communities as a result of forest protection. Communities used funds toward projects that brought community wide benefits including hammermills, boreholes and school infrastructure.
- Approximately 5,031 people are direct beneficiaries of the project’s different livelihood intervention activities which include:
- Provision of training and support to 750 beneficiary households in the implementation of improved conservation farming practices, which help farmers to generate higher yields through more efficient farming practices.
- Provision of training to current charcoal producers in sustainable charcoal production practices and financial incentives to operate within designated areas of protected community forest. The project is designed to meaningfully address some of the most serious drivers of deforestation within the project zone for the LZRP.
- Creation of local jobs and local employment to 33 people. Positions range from domestic and part-time construction workers, to facilitators and management positions as members of BCP’s renowned Forest Monitoring Team and Community Engagement Team.
- Financing of environmental education through its Environmental Education Programme; a 21-lesson interactive curriculum targeted at Grade 6 students. In 2017, the Environmental Education Programme is taking place at 4 schools, involving 11 teachers and 153 pupils.
- Working closely with local institutions and organizations to build their capacity to access and manage community resources in a fair,transparent and meaningful way.
- Improving community infrastructure and health by increasing access to clean water.
- Partnered with local organization Bee Sweet to deliver a long term and scalable beekeeping initiative that has provided 4,000 beehives to 200+ households in the area.
- Offset purchases also support wildlife protection and anti-poaching activities in the area, which is home to a number of threatened and endangered species including lion.
- Supported the Forestry Department to double the size of its existing tree nursey and modernize it. Farmers are now able to access seedlings for a variety of different types of trees including fruit trees and trees for use in Conservation Farming.
Added value benefits
Carbon management projects are able to contribute to improving the livelihoods of local communities in significant ways. These benefits are a vital part of the broader aims of creating lasting social and environmental sustainability. The benefits are in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and include improvements to local economies through employment, higher value produce and infrastructure upgrades. Many projects will have health benefits, education improvements and a positive impact on gender equality.
REDD+ projects deliver significant carbon savings, working closely with forest communities to enable sustainable livelihoods while conserving the trees and wildlife.
Each year, carbon emissions are reduced by 6,550,464 tonnes, whilst delivering $8,502,324 of total added value.
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