National Adaptation Programme of Action on Climate Change (Zambia)

Summary

The National Adaptation Programme of Action on Climate Change (NAPA) was formulated by the Government of Zambia to enable the effective identification of national climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation needs, as part of the process of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The NAPA identifies 39 urgent adaptation needs and 10 priority areas within the sectors of agriculture and food security (livestock, fisheries and crops), energy and water, human health, natural resources and wildlife. Although the NAPA does not include specific recommendations for REDD+ it does identify climatic hazards and provides adaptation measures for the forestry sector. For example, the main climatic hazards that threaten the forestry sector are identified as extended droughts, which lead to land degradation and loss of soil fertility as well as forest fires, e.g. high temperatures and droughts are seen as having an impact on the regeneration of Miombo forest, which normally regenerates quite easily and fast.

The suggested adaptation strategies for the forestry sector are to reduce the rate of deforestation (land clearing for agriculture and charcoal production) to allow for adjustments to climatic changes, such as lower levels of rainfall and increased temperatures. Specific adaptation measures include: i) improving extension services to ensure sustainable land and forest management; ii) promoting community forest management; and iii) implementing afforestation and reforestation programmes to improve management of water catchment areas and to provide fuel wood to minimise encroachment on forests.

Zambia's NAPA was developed by the then Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (now Ministry of Lands, Natural resources and Environmental Protection).