Engage farmers in reversing deforestion in Zambia

Holding her infant child and standing between her mother and grandmother, this is Sakani M. These four generations of women live under one roof. Sakani and her family have a 9-hectare subsistence farm where they grow vegetables and maize - a staple across the Luanshya district in the Zambian Copperbelt. Sakani recently joined the forest restoration program and committed to returning one hectare on the family's farm to forest through assisted natural regeneration.

Why? The stream that used to run through their land all year now dries up for a number of months. Some of the ways trees and forests contribute to the water cycle are common knowledge: trees enable water from precipitations to infiltrate through soils and recharge the groundwater, they prevent topsoil erosion and lower the risk of floods. There is less awareness of the role forests have in actually triggering precipitation. Tiny organic particles released by trees ascend into the upper atmosphere and serve as surfaces on which water vapor can condense. Condensed water vapor forms clouds that will shower lands below them with rain and reflect solar energy back into space, providing a natural cooling effect.

Sakani and her community are restoring Miombo woodlots as a way to recharge their water resources. Regenerated forests will also increase biodiversity and the number of pollinators for their crops, securing their food supply. Food and water - two basic needs are being disrupted by deforestation and climate change. Thanks to your support, we can help Sakani and others in her community implement a simple, cost-efficient and effective solution to both local and global issues.