Community-Based Follow-Up Activity on Promoting Afforestation, Nature-Based Solutions and Enterprise Development for Conserving and Restoring Freshwater Ecosystems and Fish Stocks in the Lower Zambezi, Zambia

Venue

Siavonga, Zambia

Event Date

19 Nov 2026 09:00AM
21 Nov 2026 05:00PM

Event Type

Physical

Organisers: AU-IBAR, in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of the Republic of Zambia
 

About the event

Zambia's inland fisheries in the Zambezi, Kafue and Luangwa river systems are vital for food security, livelihoods and biodiversity. Overfishing, deforestation, riverbank erosion, siltation and climate change are damaging these ecosystems, destroying fish habitats and putting pressure on fish stocks. In the Lower Zambezi, which supports around 1,200 fishers, degraded riverbanks and lost spawning grounds threaten both nature and livelihoods.

Under its Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy project, AU-IBAR is supporting Zambia to put the AU-endorsed Continental Strategy on Nature-Based Solutions for Conserving, Restoring and Sustainable Use of Aquatic Ecosystems and Fish Stocks into practice. An ecological and socio-economic assessment identified degraded sites and priority areas for afforestation. Its findings informed a community-based training workshop on Nature-Based Solutions held in July 2026.

This three-day follow-up activity will move communities from training to action. Through hands-on sessions and field demonstrations, participants will:

  • review the commitments made in July and agree on community restoration action plans;
  • learn practical afforestation and riverbank restoration techniques;
  • establish or strengthen community tree nurseries for restoration seedlings;
  • take part in rehabilitating and protecting fisheries reserves and fish breeding grounds;
  • strengthen community-based monitoring and reporting of illegal activities;
  • increase the role of women and youth in restoration, monitoring and decision-making.

Who will take part

Local fishers and fishing communities, women and youth representatives, traditional leaders, fisheries cooperatives, the Department of Fisheries and other government institutions, the AU-IBAR technical team, technical experts and partners working in fisheries, forestry and community development.

Expected results

Communities with stronger practical restoration skills, functioning community nurseries, restoration demonstrations on degraded sites, community action plans, and documented lessons. Together these will form a replicable community-based Nature-Based Solutions model that can be scaled up in Zambia and other AU Member States.

Contact persons