Community Forest Management Groups (CFMGs) in three districts of Muchinga Province have signed an agreement with Government to promote communal control, use and management of forests.
The three districts that have signed the deal include selected community groups in Shiwang`andu, Chinsali and Nakonde districts, respectively.
Provincial Minister Jobbicks Kalumba who graced the signing ning ceremony expressed his s delight at the move adding that Community groups have now been given the obligation to control community forests and described it as a best form of decentralisation.
The Decentralized Forest and Other Natural Resources Management Project (DFNRMP) that has achieved Community forests control is an introductory project which has been undertaken in collaboration with the Government of Zambia and Government of Finland.
The programme is meant to contribute to the reduction of poverty, as well as contributing to improvement of sustainable forests and other natural resources management.
Dr. Kalumba said that the provincial administration looks forward to all sectors in the province to continue supporting the project activities as soon as support from the Government of Finland ends this June.
He has urged the Department of Forest to ensure that, the Project is extended to all parts of the province.
The DFNRMP sustainability plan of working through the Local level structures such as the Council and the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) will facilitate the formation of more Community Forestry Management Groups.
The PS however, has lamented that out of the 33, 190 hectors of land covered by the new Community Forest agreements in Zambia Muchinga Province only has 2, 579 while the rest is in North-western Province.
Dr. Kalumba has also appealed to Finland government to consider extending the programme to include other districts in Muchinga Province and also extend the programme duration to two more years.
And the Ambassador of Finland Timo Olkkonen who was represented by Elizabeth Njlovu said that the Government of Finland and Zambia have been cooperating partners for 50 years in development of Forest Management.
Mr. Olkkonen said that the Government of Finland funded the project to offer pilot community management Forests under the statutory Instrument No. 11 of 2018.
In a speech read on his behalf by an Advisor to the Finland embassy Elizabeth Ndlouvu, Mr. Olkkonen said that the statutory instrument enables local communities to gain rights to control access and use their surrounding forests and benefit economically, adding that the fight of deforestation is now in the hands of the Community Forest groups.
Meanwhile, Acting Director of Forestry, Wiseman Sangulube has thanked Traditional Leaders for supporting the project by allocating land towards the project.
Mr. Sangulube has also thanked the Finish Government for being a leading partner in Forest management.
Traditional Leaders from the three districts the Senior Chief Nkula, Chieftainess Waitwika , Chief Nkweto, and Chief Mumba, also witnessed the Signing Ceremony which was held at Chief Mukwikile`s Palace on Friday.
