Communities in Muwango Village, Chipinge District, Zimbabwe, are enhancing forest-based livelihoods and climate resilience through community-led tree planting and innovative biochar production. The initiative is supported technically by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Forestry Commission, and partner organizations, with financial backing from the Government of Italy under the Miombo Transboundary Initiative (MTI).
The project was showcased during Zimbabwe’s National Tree Planting Day, when community members, government officials, and development partners established a 2.5-hectare community woodlot. The woodlot aims to provide a sustainable source of firewood and construction poles, alleviating pressure on nearby indigenous forests, including Chirinda Forest and surrounding miombo woodlands. The Provincial Forestry Extension Manager highlighted that the woodlot not only addresses household energy needs but also supports ongoing beekeeping activities by enhancing forage for bees.
Seventy-one participants attended the tree-planting event, 68 percent of them women. During the activity, 300 seedlings were planted, with a further 1,000 scheduled for planting. The community plans to plant at least 1,600 Eucalyptus seedlings per year over the next three years. Situated along the boundary of Chirinda Forest, the woodlot will serve as a buffer zone, reducing pressure on protected areas and contributing to forest conservation.
Muwango Village is implementing a diversified set of livelihood initiatives, including horticulture, aquaculture, and apiculture, with long-standing support from the Green Institute. FAO is building on this foundation to strengthen and scale up community initiatives. In October 2025, the community harvested around 100 kilograms of honey, sold to the Forestry Commission for approximately USD 300, demonstrating their growing capacity to participate in sustainable forest-based value chains. With support from the project, the community will expand from 30 beehives to 60, potentially producing 900 kilograms of honey per harvest and generating an estimated income of USD 1,800.
The FAO National Project Coordinator, Maxwell Phiri, outlined planned 2026 activities under the Miombo Transboundary Initiative, including beekeeping support, capacity building, provision of equipment, fire management training, and community-based forest monitoring. He emphasized that the initiative aims to strengthen livelihoods while conserving critical forest ecosystems.
A key innovation of the programme is the production of biochar from the invasive species Vernonanthura polyanthes. Forestry Commission specialists demonstrated how the biochar can be used to improve soil fertility while controlling the spread of the invasive plant. Community members are trained to avoid using indigenous trees for charcoal and to follow environmental safeguards and standard operating procedures to minimize risks such as carbon monoxide exposure and fire hazards.
The Village Head of Muwango expressed gratitude to FAO, government institutions, and partners for their continued support and stressed the importance of sustained capacity development to ensure the long-term success of community-led forest restoration and livelihood initiatives.
