About this episode
Meet Bertha Mvula from Kafue! She’s turning cassava and groundnut shells into eco-friendly charcoal, reducing deforestation and saving the planet, one briquette at a time! Extent of Tree Cutting for Charcoal in ZambiaDeforestation Rate:Zambia loses approximately 250,000 to 300,000 hectares of forest per year, largely due to charcoal production and agricultural expansion.Source: FAO – Global Forest Resources Assessment (2020); Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Zambia (2022).Charcoal as Main Energy Source:Over 90% of urban households in Zambia rely on charcoal for cooking, particularly in Lusaka, Ndola, and Kitwe.Source: Zambia Energy Regulatory Board (ERB), 2021.Charcoal Demand:Lusaka alone consumes around 200,000 tons of charcoal annually.Source: Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), 2021."Zambia is losing nearly 300,000 hectares of forest annually, with charcoal production being one of the biggest culprits. Over 90% of urban households depend on charcoal, leading to massive deforestation, biodiversity loss, and increased carbon emissions. If this trend continues, Zambia faces severe environmental consequences — from food insecurity to climate instability."Voices for Just Climate Action #vcayouth #AgentsOfChange #ZambiaClimateHeroes #SustainableEnergy #YouthForClimateAction
