04/12/2025
CEC’s tree-planting initiative bearing fruit…
MWEKERA, an area located near Kitwe on the country’s Copperbelt Province that comprises a forest reserve, a stream and copper project, has long felt the effects of deforestation.
From 2001 to 2024, the Copperbelt lost 460,000 hectares of tree cover, equivalent to around 23% of the 2000 tree cover area. During this period, around 84% of tree cover loss occurred in areas where the dominant drivers of loss resulted in deforestation.
Data also shows that the major drivers of deforestation are permanent agriculture, which accounted for 380,000 hectares of forest; 41,000 lost due to shifting cultivation, while logging accounted for around 33,000 hectares.
Evidently, the area’s forestry has served as an invaluable source of livelihood for the local residents living off the land. But given the rapidly diminishing levels of tree cover, it is clear that these socio-economic practices are unsustainable – both for the environment and for people’s livelihoods.
In 2021, the region lost 36.7 kilo hectares of tree cover and 291 kilo hectares in 10 years since 2010 - a net loss of 13%, caused by the unsustainable use of land and forests.
The resulting environmental degradation and deforestation of water catchment areas and river sources have negatively affected the region’s hydrology.
And with underground water recharge points and rivers impacted, water tables have receded and water — the most essential commodity for human life — has become harder to find.
One major local player taking notice of the worrying situation is the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), whose business model is anchored on sustainable environmental practices and responsible Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) principles.
The Kitwe-based power utility has taken the lead in tree-planting initiatives, planting 500,000 trees and creating carbon sinks capable of absorbing over 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide since 2019, thereby, regenerating river sources and forests across the province.
The socio-economic impact
Local residents have welcomed this bold initiative, which has had remarkable outcomes for the environment and people’s livelihoods.
Joseph Chishimba, a beneficiary, has noted a steady flow of water supply to the area.
“We are grateful to CEC for the positive changes it has brought to our community. In the past, we struggled with water and people had to walk long distances because the rivers often dried up. Schoolchildren also lacked support. Since CEC arrived, development has improved and the community has embraced it. By continuing to protect these trees, we can ensure lasting peace and a steady water supply.”
Memory Mwansa, who also lives in the area, is able to generate an income by participating in tree-planting, as well as other related activities.
“From the work we do for CEC, we earn some money, which we use to buy school uniforms and books for our children. We are grateful to CEC for giving us these trees because the ones we had before were lost to charcoal burning. We faced a shortage of trees and scarce water. We used to walk long distances to fetch water. With the introduction of these trees, there is development in this area and we no longer experience water shortages.”
For the Forestry Department, who have also partnered withCEC, the initiative is about more than just trees – it’s about protecting the future.
James Malama, a Research Officer at the Forestry Department, explains that the initiative is about environmentalsustainability.
“It would be a disaster if we don’t have the help from CEC. I can say big thanks to them because of their work they’re doing – it’s more important to the environment. For us to live on this planet, we need more trees and to keep the environment healthy for the present and the future. There’s a lot of change as you can see, plants are being planted along this stream in order to anchor the soil which is along the river and the community members have been involved in order to improve their livelihoods,” Malama says.
CEC reiterates commitment towards combating deforestation, sustainably
The importance of trees cannot be overemphasised. Trees provide the oxygen required to breathe, anchor ecosystemsand support life. They are also nature’s water managers: capturing, storing, and releasing water to prevent floods, protect soil, and keep rivers and groundwater flowing. Without trees, landscapes dry out, water sources shrink and ecosystems lose their resilience against drought and climate change.
CEC understands the importance of trees to the ecosystem, hence its investment in the tree-planting initiative.
Verona Mwila, CEC’s Head, Corporate Communications, says that progress has been made in the company’s quest to reverse deforestation.
“Since we started planting the trees, we have seen a change in the areas where we have planted. The water levels have definitely been restored. We have seen a change within the community itself, how people are approaching the aspect of environmental protection. We are seeing the extension of social-economic benefits to the communities around and over and beyond that, we have been able to build a relationship with traditional leadership in the area as well, of course with the people that we employ, but most importantly I’d like to say that from the employment that we have provided, the majority that have benefited have actually been women so there’s a lot of benefit for us, a lot of satisfaction that we have been able to derive from this project,” says Mwila.
From restoring rivers to rebuilding lives, CEC’s tree-planting initiative is starting to bear fruit in growing a greener, stronger future together: one seed and one river at a time.
