Italian company, ENI eyes investment in country’s forestry sector

An Italian Company, ENI has committed to develop the world largest conservation of forests carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests in Zambia.

Italian Ambassador to Zambia Antonino Maggiore says the project which is under evaluation, will be the largest in the world in terms of hectarage and verified social impact.

Maggiore said this will be achieved by improving the protection of the land adjacent to the Kafue National Park and linking the national park to the Caprivi Strip in Namibia.

The Italian envoy who said this in Lusaka today when he called on Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Dr. Jonas Chanda says the project has the potential to include about 4 million hectors of community forest in the surrounding Chiefdoms.

Meanwhile Dr. Chanda has appealed for more bilateral cooperation between the two countries especially in the areas of Water Supply and Sanitation and Environmental Protection in order to meet Government’s goal of universal access to water and sanitation.

Dr. Chanda also called on the Italian Government to support Zambia in the water resources development programmes by putting up water resources infrastructure such as dams.

He says this is in order to mitigate effects of climate change.

The Minister says it is the desire of President Edgar Lungu for the country to meet the goal of universal access to water and sanitation, improved water resources development and management as well as sound environmental management by the year 2030.