Environment-Food-Energy Nexus Complexities in Zambia: A Case of Forest Exploitation in Mpande Community of Kafue District

Forests are important for sustaining life on Earth, they perform environmental functions such as soil management, biodiversity conservation and climate moderation. However, forests have been threatened with deforestation due to the need for income generation and forest clearance for agriculture purposes. The anticipated annual rate of deforestation in Zambia is between 250,000 and 300,000 hectares. Mpande community in Zambia’s Kafue district has been faced with forest exploitation, which has resulted in intricate problems pertaining to the environment- food-energy nexus. Competition has arisen among food and energy resources due to the growing scarcity of environmental resources, coupled with population growth. This study explored the complex interrelationships among the environment, food and energy in Mpande community. Thus, this study aimed to explore the relationships among the environment, food and energy nexus with specific focus on the complexities arising from forest exploitation in Mpande community. Using a qualitative case study design, data was gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, unstructured interviews and physical observation. Data was collected from a sample of 254 respondents that were purposively selected. The respondents comprised of members of Mpande community and key informants from Kafue Forestry department and Ministry of Agriculture. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data in order to recognize the linkages in the environment- food-energy nexus. The results of this study revealed that forest exploitation has led to loss of biodiversity, weakened soil fertility and reduced the availability of wild foods, thereby exacerbating food insecurity. Additionally, the community’s dependence on charcoal and firewood which has been driven by lack of alternative energy sources had also accelerated forest exploitation. Therefore, this study highlighted the need for integrated community-based forest management, sustainable agricultural practices, promoting alternative energy sources and an increase in environmental literacy.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics

• Publication date

  2025-03-18

• Fields of study

  Not labeled

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.11648/j.ajere.20251001.12
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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