COMMUNITY FUELWOOD

There is so much to understand about how this programme is going to be run. The days of just taking an axe and randomly cutting trees are over in Zambia. There is no blame here, just a solution to a big problem that is only going to get worse if something is not done soon. This programme is here to set the community up as a business run by the community through an elected committee. A name will be chosen by the members for this community forest that will be controlled by the community and regulated through the Forestry Act of Zambia. It will be given an allowable cut of trees for the fuelwood harvested by the Agency. This will include firewood and charcoal used by the community and fuelwood offered for sale to non-members of the community. The remainder will be taken to a nearby depot and sold to the Agency for public sales in urban areas. Workers harvesting the fuelwood will receive a wage for their labour. They will also receive an employee discount on the fuelwood they personally use. This arrangement will be the same for workers in the reforestation and other sectors. Full benefits will be in place for each worker employed by the community forest. The community forest will also provide fuelwood to the less fortunate in the area through a social welfare scheme paying up to 100 percent of their fuel costs. If you have any questions, please send an email to:  africancommunityproject@gmail.com