Community forest management groups in North Western Province, Zambia. Assessment report
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Zambia has embraced community forestry (CF) as a strategy that places local communities at the centre of sustainable forest management. Since 2014, national policies and legislation have enabled communities to establish community forest management groups (CFMGs), giving them legal authority to manage forest resources and regulate the use and sale of forest products and ecosystem services. Both state and non-state actors are increasingly supporting this approach to strengthen forest conservation while enhancing rural livelihoods.In recent years, the number of CFMGs seeking formal recognition has grown rapidly, particularly in North Western Province, where 127 groups are currently in development – many driven by forest carbon project initiatives. However, as of early 2024, none have completed the full seven-step formalization process. Half of the groups have reached step five (CF agreement), 23 percent are at step four (management planning and rules), 11 percent are at step three (constitution development), and 16 percent remain at step one (process initiation).To better understand this emerging landscape, the UN-REDD Programme supported an assessment of existing and prospective CFMGs across five districts of North Western Province. The aim was to generate insights that can guide national CF efforts by government and civil society, strengthen the role of communities as local climate actors, and mobilize finance for climate action at both local and jurisdictional levels.The assessment applied a framework developed by the Regional Community Forestry Training Center (RECOFTC), structured around five interlinked principles: effective governance and participation; rights and institutional settings; availability of natural resources; addressing community needs; and adaptive management and learning. Together, these principles provide a comprehensive foundation for evaluating CF readiness and identifying pathways to enhance community-led forest management in Zambia.