Climate

Zambia is located between 8^ᵒ and 18^ᵒ south of the equator and experiences distinct wet and dry seasons.  The wet season lasts from November to April, while the dry season runs from May to October.  In the wet season between 27 and 47 inches of rain falls, with greater rainfall occurring in the northern part of the country.  Very little rain occurs in the dry season with many areas not experiencing any rain in the dry season.  Dry season is subdivided into two periods, cold and hot.  During the cold part of the dry season, from May to August, daytime temperatures are generally between 70^ᵒ and 80^ᵒF, nighttime temperatures can be as low as 40^ᵒF, but are generally in the 50s.  In the hot season, September and October, temperatures reach into the 80s or 90s. 

Forests

Zambia sits in the heart of the miombo woodlands, a vast expanse of forest and woodland extending across southern Africa.  The United Nations REDD program (UN-REDD) estimates that this forest, along with the other forest types in Zambia, covers an estimated 120 million acres or about 60% of the total area of the country[i].  Zambia is one of only 11 countries in the world with over 50% forest cover.  Together, Zambia’s forests hold over 5,800 plant species.

Rivers and wetlands

Zambia sits on a high plateau with most of the country between 3,000 and 4,500 feet above sea level.  This high plateau is the source of both the Congo and Zambezi rivers, the largest and fourth largest rivers, by discharge, in Africa.  Several significant tributaries to the Zambezi River including the Luangwa, Kafue and Kabompo rivers are mainly within Zambia.  Large national parks are situated on the Luangwa and Kafue rivers providing excellent wildlife habitat. 

Several large wetland areas are in Zambia.  Lake Bangweulu and surrounding swamplands on the Chambeshi River, a tributary to the Congo River, are the largest, encompassing up to 5,000 square miles in the rainy season.  Other significant wetlands include Lukanga Swamp and Kafue Flats on the Kafue River, and the Barotse Floodplain on the Zambezi River.  All of these wetlands provide valuable wildlife habitat, and important fishing grounds.  The Kafue Flats are partially developed for sugar cane plantations.

Forest amenities and ecological services

 Zambian forests and woodlands are a vital source of resources and ecological services for rural and urban Zambians alike.  Trees provide food, timber, medicine, fodder and fuel, among other resources.  Ecological services include soil enrichment and stabilization in farming areas, and bank stabilization along rivers.  Fish from Zambia’s rivers are a critical protein source for Zambians and streamside trees provide habitat and maintain river water quality which help maintain fish stocks.  Trees also provide shade and regional cooling.  A single mango tree can shade an entire household; a forest can protect a community from temperature extremes. 

Challenges

While the forests of Zambia provide many benefits, they are at risk.  In the growing urban centers, charcoal is an important fuel.  The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that fuel wood harvests are over 8 times as great as harvests for other purposes[ii].  Zambian cities have a ring of deforested land surrounding them as charcoal produces must travel farther each year to find appropriate wood.  In rural areas, shifting cultivation causes significant loss of forest cover since farmers must cut new fields as soil fertility decrease in existing fields.  In addition, many thousands of acres of forest have been lost due to mining activities. 

Large scale replanting efforts are few in Zambia[iii].  In a few areas, pine and eucalyptus are planted for timber, but following most cutting of natural forests, no trees are planted.  Some areas are able to regenerate naturally, but in other areas trees do not regenerate in adequate numbers due to fire or distance from seed sources.  Where this happens, the benefits of forests are lost.

By working with communities to replant local forest areas Color Me In! hopes to educate Zambians on the value of forest resources, and empower these communities to improve their local environment and retain the benefits provided by trees.