Illegal development, deforestation and destruction of livelihoods in Njelele and Mpelembe Community Forest Areas (CFAs)
Illegal deforestation and land clearance in Njelele CFA
CFAs are formed under principles set out in the Forest Act No. 4 of 2015, in particular Sections 29 to 35. They set out community forestry agreements, with the department’s Director, for the management of CFAs, which includes the publication of management plans that stipulate how each CFA’s natural resources should be managed and harvested sustainably.
It is shocking, therefore, to learn that the local Chief has given permission for land within Njelele CFA to be deforested and turned into arable fields and livestock farming. Permission that was given without the consent of the Director and in absence of any communication with the Community Forest Management Group (CFMG) or Community Resources Board (CRB). An act that is in direct conflict with terms set out in the adopted management plan, endorsed by the department’s Director. The same land also forms part of the buffer zone to Kasanka National Park and lies within Kafinda Game Management Area.
When questioned by Kasanka Trust’s law enforcement officers (sanctioned by DNPW) farmers clearing parcels of land within Njelele CFA explained that they had previously met with Chief Chitambo’s advisors (Chilolos), who allocated the parcel of land to them on the Chief’s behalf.
Such actions are in direct conflict with the terms set out by the Forest Act (2015), whereby any such action should be approved in its entirety by the Director, as well as in conjunction with the CFMG and any other appointed person under terms of the community forestry agreement.
Furthermore, since this illegal encroachment, many beehives, that are managed by the CFMG, have been maliciously destroyed. The honey taken, hives broken and wood stolen. Some of the hives have also been burned in this unprovoked attack on the communities’ livelihoods.
Kasanka Trust, with funding from its partner organisations, have distributed 1,100 hives in the Njelele CFA, and a further 1,500 hives in the Mpelembe CFA, and have provided training to the local community partners on apiary management and good husbandry skills. It is, therefore, with great sadness that the Trust has witnessed and documented such wanton destruction of the beehives in these CFAs.
This unprovoked act of wickedness is disheartening for communities that have worked hard to manage their CFAs in accordance with the Forest Act, only for them to be undermined by traditional leaders within their own communities.
Kasanka Trust is now seeking legal advice with the regard to the ‘land grab’, deforestation, livestock encroachment and the destruction of property in Njelele and Mpelembe CFAs. We will provide updates as this story unfolds.