CHIEFS IN LUAPULA PROVINCE PLEDGE LAND FOR COMMUNITY FORESTRY MANAGEMENT: A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Chief Munkanta, Kawambwa district In a move towards sustainable development and environmental conservation, traditional leaders in Luapula Province are actively engaging with government initiatives to promote Community Forestry Management Groups (CFMGs). Chief Munkanta of the Chishinga people in Kawambwa district and Chief Mwansakombe of the Ng’umbo-speaking people in Chifunabuli district have both pledged significant portions of their land for community forest management, highlighting the importance of preserving forests for various economic and ecological benefits. Chief Munkanta, of Kawambwa district, is collaborating with the Ministry of Green Economy, specifically through the Department of Forestry, to ensure the success of Community Forestry Management Groups in his chiefdom. Recognizing the multifaceted importance of forests, Chief Munkanta emphasizes their potential for carbon trading, beekeeping, and mushroom harvesting. To protect these valuable resources, he active