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Facility for Action for Climate Empowerment to Achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) 

Forestry

Forests hero

Forests cover around 49.9 million ha in Zambia, 66 percent of its total land mass.

Forests contribute to approximately 20 percent of rural household incomes and about one sixth of the rural population depends heavily on forests and non-forest resources for their livelihood. 

Zambian forest cover is currently reducing due to deforestation and forest degradation at an estimated rate of 276,021 hectares annually, with negative effects on climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Major drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Zambia include agricultural area expansion, heavy dependency on wood fuel (charcoal and firewood, extensively used in rural areas, unsustainable timber extraction and infrastructure development.

In its NDC, Zambia identified sustainable forest management as a key component of its mitigation strategy and expressed will to achieve mitigation benefits through sustainable forest management.

FACE-NDC is working on strengthening the capacities of teachers, extension workers and trainers involved in the forestry sector, is supporting the development of knowledge and training materials, updating curricula related to forestry and creating linkages between forestry colleges and the private sector.

FACE-NDC also actively supports ongoing projects and initiatives for forest users and communities in vicinities of forests and works on raising awareness on the importance of forests for climate mitigation and adaptation, advocating for sustainable forest management, aiming to achieve better adaptive capacity in the short and long terms as well as positive economic impacts.