Project Title
Building the Resilience of Local Communities in Zambia through the Introduction of Ecosystem-based Adaptation into Priority Ecosystems, including Wetlands and Forests
Key Figures:
- Budget: USD 6.18 million (cofinance USD 15.4 million)
- Executing Entity: Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change Department
- Area to rehabilitate: 11,600 hectares of wetlands & forests and 3,250 hectares of agricultural land
- Beneficiaries: 50,700 people
- Fund: Least Developed Countries Fund (GEF)
- Project Sites: Bangweulu and Lukanga wetlands
- Timeframe: 2021-2025
Description:
Wetland and forest ecosystems in Zambia are important for rural livelihoods, providing a wide array of goods and services, such as timber, medicinal plants and a variety of food sources. Crucially, wetlands and forests also reduce the negative impacts of climate change on local communities by absorbing excess rainwater into the ground during floods and providing sources of water during droughts. However, the increased demand for food, timber and other ecosystem services has led to the degradation of these ecosystems, which in turn, reduces their ability to protect communities against the impacts of climate change.
UNEP is now supporting the Government of Zambia to improve the climate resilience of local people living near wetlands by strengthening the capacity of local communities and local governments to implement ecosystem-based adaptation interventions. This is being achieved by piloting ecosystem-based adaptation measures in sites across the Bangweulu and Lukanga wetlands (and adjacent forest ecosystems) and by providing training to the local and national governments on adaptation planning and implementation. Knowledge and lessons learned on the benefits and execution of the nature-based solutions will also be disseminated with an aim of promoting the upscaling of such approaches in other areas in the country.
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