ZAMBIA FOR AGROFORESTRY, BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE (Z4ABC)
The Zambia for Agroforestry, Biodiversity and Climate (Z4ABC) project is working towards transforming agroforestry, forestry and wildlife-based value-chains to become more sustainable, climate-resilient and productive while at the same time improving local livelihoods, food security, and biodiversity. The project is funded by the European Commission's DeSIRA initiative, with co-funding from Finnish partners and the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) through CIFOR-ICRAF's Zambia office. From Finland, the Viikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI), the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) are supporting the implementation of project activities.
On behalf of VITRI, Nicholas Hogarth has been working as a forest and livelihoods expert trying to identify suitable environmental value chains and “unlock their potential and place our support where it will have the most impact”. Nick has been participating in several meetings and workshops with local government officials to coordinate support from different actors and avoid overlapping or duplicity of work at official levels while supporting the development of more sustainable value chains.
Maarit Kallio is also part of the project, she has been in the field working with local staff in the implementation of household surveys to better understand and support bamboo value chains. Bamboo weaving into homestead products (e.g., baskets and furniture) or use as a construction material for grain silos, and fences is an important source of additional revenue for local people. However, the availability of bamboo has decreased recently as more people try to complement their livelihoods. The project aims to work with communities involved in the trade to support sustainable management and harvesting of the wild bamboo thus preventing further deterioration. Plans to establish bamboo nurseries are also underway to supply propagation material for the restoration of bamboo areas.