Project
Mafinga Hills
Mafinga Hills
Muchinga province • Zambia Started in January 2021 Active Restoration, Natural Forest Management
Sustainable Development Goals
Summary
The source of the Luangwa River lies in Zambia's Mafinga Hills. This montane area on the border with Malawi stretches over 12,000 ha and incorporates parts of a National Forest Reserve, and is an essential watershed for farming and fishing communities downstream. It is also a biodiversity hotspot. Today, it is under threat from deforestation driven by agricultural expansion, chitemene (slash-and-burn agriculture), uncontrolled bush fires, timber logging and the collection of firewood.