Unlocking forest trade
Unlocking the potential of honey and sustainable charcoal value chains through policy reform in Zambia.
A Zambia National Forest Commodities Association (ZNFCA) facilitator engages farm and forest producer organisations to strengthen their voices and participation in inclusive policy processes (Photo: Mukaba Mukaba/FAO)
The Zambia National Forest Commodities Association (ZNFCA) is not-for-profit member-based farm, forestry and environment conservation organisation established to promote ecological and sustainable management of forestry commodities and farmland in Zambia.
The establishment of ZNFCA was directly facilitated by financial support from the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF), creating for the first time a national platform capable of representing producer interests and engaging directly in policy processes.
Forest and Farm Facility activities
FFF supported the initial registration of ZNFCA in August 2017 by providing three months’ guidance to board members on the necessary steps to become a legally recognised association. Between 2019 and 2020, ZNFCA received technical support from the FFF to develop a strategic plan (2019-22), including finance for consultations with producer groups, government stakeholders and technical experts.
Further FFF support in 2022-23 led to an amended and finalised strategic plan (2022-24), allowing producers to articulate evidence on how existing regulations suppressed incomes, discouraged legal trade and limited the growth of sustainable forest-based enterprises. This enabled ZNFCA to engage directly with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE) and the Forestry Department to shape two national policy review processes.
In April 2024, equipped with the evidence and credibility built through engagement meetings with ZNFCA members, the female ZNFCA national coordinator and male programme officer brokered discussions with the MGEE and the Forestry Department to discuss the Forest Policy and Forest Act.
This advocacy resulted in two major policy reforms now under government review: the inclusion of reduced honey trading fees in the draft amendments to forest regulations, and the formal recognition of charcoal briquettes as a clean energy product within the revised Forest Act and Climate Change Bill.
Significance of impact
These reforms are significant because the high costs associated with smallholder honey trading and transportation have greatly reduced incomes for an estimated 20,000-30,000 rural beekeepers. Zambia is among the top 20 honey producers in Africa, with significant potential for growth.
Additionally, the absence of formal recognition for charcoal briquettes restricts the ability of some 40,000 producers (and 500,000 value chain actors) to produce sustainably, access markets, attract investment or contribute meaningfully to clean energy solutions. At present, unsustainable charcoal production is a primary driver of deforestation in Zambia.
The changes are expected to drive tangible improvements in livelihoods and sustainability. Lower honey trading and transportation fees, for example, will ease compliance burdens and allow small-scale beekeepers – particularly women and youth – to access markets more competitively and retain more income. While recognising sustainable charcoal briquettes in national policy frameworks will unlock investment opportunities, promote cleaner and more sustainable energy alternatives, and support enterprises that help reduce pressure on natural forests.
Conclusion
The resulting reforms demonstrate the power of organised, well-supported producer organisations to shape policies that directly improve livelihoods, strengthen value chains and contribute to national climate and forest goals.
Through this process, ZNFCA has emerged as a national leader in championing the interests of tens of thousands of forest and farm producers by transforming evidence, lived experiences and collective voice into policy changes that will benefit communities, markets and forests across Zambia.
Further reading
Forest and Farm Facility 2023 annual report: climate resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods, Forest and Farm Facility (2024)
Boosting community forestry and agroforestry businesses: field lessons learned for improving and upscaling returns from FFPO initiatives in Africa, Vincent Ziba, Gordon Manu, Sophie Grouwels, Lwanga Malwa, Duncan Macqueen (2024), FAO, Rome
Case study: Sustainable charcoal production in Zambia: a case study of the Choma Charcoal Association PGS, Emmanuel Mulenga (September 2022). In Kata Wagner (ed.) Shared labels: selling Stories that conserve biocultural diversity and promote resilience
Insight: Finding solutions in nature for climate change, Xiaoting Hou Jones (May 2020)
Event: Nature-based solutions for climate change: from global ambition to local action (May 2020)
Presentation: Zambia National Forest Commodities Association – nature-based solutions: working with forest and farm facility producer groups, Musonda Kapena (May 2020)