Acting Chief Nyamphande of the Nsenga people of Lusangazi District has urged communities not to relent in their efforts to address climate change and deforestation.
He was speaking after the signing of the Chiefdom Emissions Reduction Coordinating Committee (CERCC) agreement under the Eastern Province Jurisdiction Sustainable Landscape Project (EP-JSLP).
He said sustained commitment to environmental conservation was the only way to achieve lasting results.
The traditional leader noted that tree-planting and forest conservation initiatives require patience and consistency before tangible benefits can be realized.
“Since we have been doing this for a long time, we need to continue with this effort as evidenced by the two Community Forest Management Groups in the Chiefdom,” she said.
Meanwhile, EP-JSLP Petauke District Project Officer Chipango Lukungu explained that the project’s mission to the chiefdom was to facilitate the formation of the Chiefdom Emissions Reduction Coordinating Committee (CERCC).
Ms Lukungu said the Committee is being established to create structures and systems that will support the implementation of the Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP) and eventual realization of carbon credit benefits within the chiefdom.
She explained that proceeds generated from climate-smart agriculture activities, forest conservation initiatives and the use of improved cook stoves would be managed through the CERCC committee once carbon credit revenues begin to flow to the Chiefdom.
And speaking after her election as Chairperson of the Nyamphande Chiefdom CERCC, Sarah Sakala welcomed the timely involvement of traditional leaders and communities in the emissions reduction programme.
Ms Sakala said the initiative would equip communities with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively address deforestation and climate change.
She added that the Committee looks forward to receiving information and support that will help reduce unsustainable practices such as charcoal burning and excessive firewood collection and tree cutting.
“What we would like is to be equipped with initiatives that will help us reduce deforestation and charcoal burning. We also want access to alternative sources of energy for cooking, including electricity so that we can reduce the cutting down of trees in our chiefdom,” she said.
The Eastern Province Jurisdiction Sustainable Landscape Project is supporting community-led initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while promoting sustainable livelihoods or alternative livelihoods and climate resilience approaches.
