cooperatives – COMACO – Community Markets for Conservation

What is driving this?

Partly the traditional values of helping and sharing are reemerging as cooperatives build a path toward self-reliance with new farming technologies and markets that COMACO is helping to support. As COMACO, we see a growing cooperative spirit of achieving more when cooperatives work together to overcome common challenges.

[bctt tweet=”One very common challenge is the destruction and loss of natural resources when communities do not plan or encourage better practices.” username=”COMACO_Zambia”] Such threats occur beyond cooperative boundaries and need a shared responsibility so such pressures can be contained and future economies developed.

COMACO’s radio program called Farm Talk and the increasing use of SMS messaging supported by COMACO are giving cooperatives a platform to communicate solutions and growing solidarity for linking conservation with development. [bctt tweet=”Tolerance to poaching and charcoal-making is waning and community pride in setting aside protected forests and enforcing environmental regulations is growing. #COMACOWorks #ForestConservation” username=”COMACO_Zambia”]

Where all this leads is a good question. It is probably not a quest to make lots of money because small-scale farming will not make you rich. For this pursuit, try your luck in the city with a skill that an advanced education can provide. But if it is life that offers free water to drink, free sustainable fuelwood for cooking, clean air, healthy foods you grow yourself, and having better markets to meet basic needs with ample time to enjoy friends and family, then it is easy to see why a life as a cooperative member would be preferred.

COMACO cooperatives have a ways to go as they build financial independence for supporting the needs of their members. Annual accounts need to be audited, annual general meetings require full attendance to build transparency and accountability of their leaders, and of course, good environmental governance is essential. These are the building blocks that will give COMACO farmers a real crack at making markets and conservation work together for a better life and a long-term commitment to the resources they live with.

Forests cover 31% of the land area on our planet and up to eighty percent of the world’s land-based species, such as elephants and rhinos, live in forests.

There is also scientific research that points to forests as playing a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as a carbon sink—soaking up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be in the atmosphere and contribute to ongoing changes in climate.

But forests around the world are under threat, jeopardizing these great benefits. The threats manifest in the form of deforestation and forest degradation. Together with government and other implementing partners, COMACO – Community Markets for Conservation is working with local communities to protect their environment and promote sustainable agricultural practices and other rural business enterprises.

One way we are doing this is by promoting beekeeping, which encourages communities to value and preserve and sustainably manage the forests.

Beekeeping is already a traditional farming practice in parts of Mumbwa and Itezi-tezhi. But it is in decline due to the devastation of forests and wildflowers that pollinators like bees need for honey making. Because beekeepers rely on these habitats for bees to pollinate and produce honey from the wildflowers and trees, there is greater buy-in that drives community-led conservation.

COMACO has been working to protect forests and wildlife in Zambia for more than 15 years. COMACO works with governments, companies, communities, and other stakeholders to promote responsible forest management practices, combat illegal logging, protect forested areas, and more.

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