2009-07-24 : EXTENSIVE FIELDWORK IN ZAMBIA

Climate Change Programme team conducts extensive fieldwork in Zambia

The Zambian component of KAZA TFCA is home to some of the country's most pristine forests that are also under threat of deforestation and degradation. Forests absorb greenhouse gases and therefore play a pivotal role in its atmospheric decrease.

To determine the potential for the forests in the project area to absorb greenhouse gases, which could ultimately create a sustainable funding source, a large biomass data collection exercise was undertaken in a 1.5 million hectare area. The six week survey included hundreds of grass, tree and soil samples, as well as measuring the canopy diameter, circumference and density of trees. A survey of this type and scale has never been undertaken in this region and was combined with stakeholder meetings to understand the dynamics of fire in the area.

The results that will take months to analyse will not only contribute to the broader ecological understanding of the area, but also form the basis of a fire management plan and future climate change mitigation initiatives. 

The survey team consisted of officials from the Zambia Wildlife Authority and Forestry Department, Peace Parks Foundation staff, fire ecologists from Working-on-Fire International and members of the local communities.
Participatory rural appraisal workshops

The participatory rural appraisal workshops were undertaken to understand how and why individual communities use certain species and what impact, if any the usage is having on the ecology. The workshops looked at indigenous fruit, vegetable, medicinal and timber related species and this led to discussions on species that may be more appropriate or economically beneficial.

The team conducting the workshops comprised Zambia Wildlife Authority officials and members of the community, assisted by Peace Parks Foundation community development staff. The workshops were held in various locations and attended by up to 85 people, some of whom had travelled vast distances to represent their village. All of this allowed the researchers a proper understanding of the local context while creating a valuable source of information sharing.

The biomass survey and the participatory rural appraisal workshops form part of an ongoing ecological and socio-economic baseline study.
The surveys were made possible thanks to Toyota's two Land Cruisers and the Klipbokkop off-road academy's logistical support.

Peace Parks Foundation is currently investigating alternative income streams for TFCAs, one of which is payment for carbon credits (carbon trading) generated through climate change mitigation ventures that include avoided deforestation and reforestation projects. The commodity being traded is quantifiable and is called a carbon credit. In order to pursue the sale of carbon credits, current carbon stocks need to be quantified in a clear, measurable and scientific way. The Foundation's Climate Change Programme is supported by National Postcode Lottery.