FAO Regional Office for Africa

FAO launches transboundary project for sustainable Miombo woodlands management in Southern Africa

Miombo woodlands provide essential livelihoods for rural communities through timber, fuelwood and non-timber forest products.

The Miombo woodlands cover nearly 2.7 million square kilometers across Southern Africa. However, these woodlands face severe threats from deforestation, unsustainable land use practices and veld fires.

©FAO/ Donald Chidoori

03/02/2025

Harare, Zimbabwe - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has launched a major new initiative to protect the Miombo woodlands in Zimbabwe, a crucial ecosystem that supports the livelihoods of millions of rural residents. 

The $1.7 million project, funded by the Italian government, will be implemented in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In Zimbabwe, FAO will work closely with the Forestry Commission and local communities in the Mudzi, Rushinga and Chipinge districts to address the growing threats facing the Miombo woodlands. 

"The Miombo woodlands are the backbone of rural Zimbabwe, providing communities with essential resources like timber, fuelwood and non-timber forest products," said the FAO Natural Resources Management Coordinator, Banarbas Mawire. "But this irreplaceable ecosystem is under immense pressure from deforestation, unsustainable land use practices, wood harvesting, charcoal production and the impacts of climate change." To tackle these challenges, the project will focus on three key objectives: 

  1.  Promoting sustainable forest management practices to conserve the Miombo woodlands and mitigate deforestation. 
  2. Enhancing the livelihoods of local communities through capacity building, value chain development and improved market access for forest products.
  3. Strengthening climate resilience through ecosystem restoration and adaptive land use strategies. 

"This project is a critical step in our efforts to protect the Miombo woodlands and support the communities that depend on them," said the Acting Director General of the Forestry Commission, Joyce Gombe. "By working together with FAO and the Italian government, we can develop innovative solutions to the threats facing this irreplaceable ecosystem, she added" 

Engaging key stakeholders in conservation efforts 

The project kicked off with a high-level inception meeting on January 28, 2025, bringing together key stakeholders from the Forestry Commission, FAO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife. This meeting established the specific goals, timelines and responsibilities for each participating entity, laying the groundwork for the project's implementation. 

In the following weeks, the project team will conduct comprehensive on-site assessments and stakeholder engagement in the target districts. This will involve evaluating the current state of forest resources, identifying local challenges and opportunities, and facilitating meetings with district-level officials, community leaders, environmental organizations and industry representatives. 

"This participatory approach will ensure that our implementation strategies are tailored to the unique needs of each district," said Banarbas Mawire. "By working closely with local stakeholders, we can promote long-term sustainability and community ownership of the project," he added. 

Commitment to biodiversity: protecting flora and fauna in Miombo regions 

Over the next three years, the Miombo woodland protection project is expected to improve forest cover and ecosystem health, create new economic opportunities for rural communities, and increase awareness and adoption of climate-smart practices. Ultimately, it aims to safeguard this vital resource for generations to come. 

"This project is a game-changer for the Miombo woodlands in Zimbabwe," said the Acting Director General of the Forestry Commission. "By addressing the root causes of deforestation and building climate resilience, we can ensure a sustainable future for this irreplaceable ecosystem and the communities that depend on it." 

Policy advocacy and regional frameworks 

“This initiative is part of the Miombo Declaration which was endorsed by 11 SADC member states in August 2022 at the Maputo Declaration on the Miombo Forest, and also strengthens local policy initiatives to protect Miombo woodlands in the country,” said Joyce Gombe. 

Encompassing parts of Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, Congo, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, the Miombo woodlands support a rich diversity of plant and animal life. They also provide essential resources and livelihoods for over 300 million people across the region. 

“If managed sustainably, these Miombo woodlands can be an important source of resilience for rural people, supporting households to absorb and recover from climatic disasters and contributing to resolving the underlying causes of food insecurity, undernutrition and poverty by providing nutritious edible products and wood fuel for cooking in addition to safeguarding biodiversity and water resources, shielding extreme weather conditions and averting land degradation and desertification,” said Banarbas Mawire. 

Contact

Donald Chidoori Multimedia and Communications Specialist +263719207340 [email protected]