Zambian Community Cooperatives Drive Forest Conservation Through Honey, Fish Trade

CHOMA, Zambia — At a bustling exhibition stand in Zambia’s Southern Province, jars of golden honey sat arranged next to fresh trays of fish a dual display aimed at demonstrating how protecting forest and aquatic ecosystems can directly translate into local economic survival.

The display, organized by the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme to commemorate the International Day of Forests, showcased products from local community cooperatives designed to prove that environmental conservation can coexist with commerce.

Under this year’s theme, “Forests and Economies,” global forestry research body CIFOR-ICRAF (Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry) led the exhibition to push a clear message to policymakers: wild conservation initiatives will fail unless they simultaneously improve local livelihoods.

“When communities see the direct benefits from sustainable resource management, whether through honey production or fisheries, they become active stewards of the ecosystems they depend on,” said Lydia Amanzi, a communications officer for CIFOR-ICRAF.

The initiative highlights a growing shift in sub-Saharan conservation strategies toward community-led models. Beekeeping relies entirely on healthy, intact forest canopies, while local artisanal fisheries depend heavily on the clean water catchments protected by surrounding woodlands. By commercializing these interconnected resources, organizers hope to reduce local reliance on destructive practices like illegal logging, charcoal production, and wildlife poaching.

The private sector is increasingly eyeing these community value chains as viable commercial opportunities rather than charitable projects.

“For us in the private sector, sustainably sourced products like honey represent more than commodities; they tell a story of responsible production and community empowerment,” said Denise Madiro, chief operations officer at Nzatu Food Group. “Strengthening these value chains means creating market opportunities that reward conservation while improving incomes for local producers.”

The economic argument comes at a critical time for Zambia’s forests, which face severe pressures from shifting agriculture, resource extraction, and climate change-induced droughts that threaten rural stability.

State officials acknowledged that traditional enforcement methods are no longer sufficient to protect the country’s natural heritage. In a speech delivered on behalf of Southern Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Namani Monze by his deputy, Yolanta Mutyambe Malunga, the government called for a shared institutional and community framework toward woodland restoration.

“Forests are engines of economic activity,” Monze’s statement said. “They provide jobs, generate income, and support livelihoods while delivering critical ecosystem services. Protecting our forests is a shared responsibility.”

Agricultural scientists also pointed out that the benefits of forest preservation extend directly into national food security. Yasa Luo Chisanga, senior agricultural research officer at the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), noted that forests provide the baseline ecological stability required to sustain surrounding agricultural lands.

For field operators on the ground, the Choma exhibition highlighted a fundamental pivot in how conservation is pitched to rural populations. Rather than simply instructing communities to lock away forest resources, the focus is now on integrating them directly into the forest-based economy.

“Our work is centered on ensuring that communities are not just beneficiaries, but key decision-makers in how natural resources are managed,” Amanzi said. “This is what makes conservation efforts sustainable in the long term.”