Fire for forests – a lesson in community led conservation

White smoke billows above the trees as the brutal heat from the fire intensifies. Masendo Mubyana, with her 1.5-year-old daughter Sandra Kuzibanyambe securely on her back, moves through the smoke. Sandra’s feet, clad in pink sandals, peek out from the shawl as she clings to her mother.

Today marks the first day of prescribed burning in the forest outside Simoa village in southwestern Zambia. With the dry season approaching, the risk of wildfires increases and therefore, prescribed or controlled fire reduces the risk of experiencing late fires which destroys regenerating trees, sprouts and seedlings.

“It’s one of the management tools we are using in terms of natural forest restoration. Here we don’t plant any trees. Instead, we ensure that we are managing the already existing woodlots to recover them. We make sure the forest is bouncing back and intact”, says Kunda Chilambe, Forest Landscape Restoration Field Officer, WWF Zambia.

Mubyana uses a rake to gather sticks, grass, and branches scattered on the dry ground. Around 20 people from her village, both men and women, work together. A forest management officer patrols with a rifle to protect them from elephants. 

“Wildfires are quite common. Most of them are caused by humans—people poaching, harvesting devil’s claw, or trying to find food”, says Chilambe.

The importance of forests

Forests cover about two-thirds of Zambia, providing crucial resources for communities, protecting watercourses, and preventing soil erosion. They also offer essential habitats for wildlife and act as a greenhouse gas sink. 

But in many parts of the country, forests are being exploited through timber harvesting, and extraction of non timber forestry products (NTFPs).

Nachore Kashandola has been involved in a project to restore forests since it began in 2020 as part of WWF’s FLR in Africa Programme. Born in Western province, she moved to Mutemwa community ten years ago, after getting married.

“The forest is a source of many important things such as medicinal plants and firewood. It’s important to manage the forest to ensure we can get what we need from it in the future”, she says.

The group works along a long line through the forest, cutting larger trees and branches first, followed by smaller bushes and grass. Those at the end, closest to the fire, use rakes to gather the material into a string.

“It’s important to manage the forest before it’s gone”, says Kashandola. 

“Illegal timber harvesting used to be a major problem, but since we (the local community) began managing this forest, we’ve seen a significant reduction. People know it’s protected now.”

“If you compare a protected area that the government has been managing over the years with the ones that are being managed by the local communities, you see that the community ones are better”, says Abel Siampale, Forestry Program Lead, WWF Zambia. This is attributed to the sense of ownership attached to community led forestry management initiatives.

As the group progresses deeper into the forest, some stay behind to cook food. They have brought live chickens and nsima, a type of cornmeal common in several African countries. Using two fireplaces, they prepare a meal for everyone working in the heat. After a few hours, the group sits down together to eat.

Integrating Indigenous knowledge

“The people here possess a high level of indigenous knowledge, which we complement with modern science. This integrated approach supports sustainable forest management”, Siampale says. “When communities benefit from the resources, they are more inclined to take care of them.” 

To strengthen community support, WWF’s FLR in Africa programme is exploring alternative livelihoods that benefit local communities without harming the forest. One such initiative is cultivating devil’s claw, a plant traditionally used for medicinal purposes.

Sustainable livelihoods

In Simoa, the community has started planting devil’s claw near their homes. They received funding and training for a grinding machine to turn the seeds into powder, increasing their profit margins.

“We aim to create business models and entrench the value of the forest for the community. People cut down trees because they need to earn money”, Siampale explains.

Inonge Mutafela, another community member, digs in the sand to find the devil’s claw. “This has really helped me. I want to expand my field,” she says. Her field, just outside the small fence surrounding her house, has allowed her to increase her harvest and avoid illegal activities in the forest.

“I think the future is bright,”  Mutafela says. “If I can benefit now with this small field, I really think it will be good in the future.”