Fifteen organizations endorse Zamba Heritage Initiative

The Zamba Heritage Initiative has secured the endorsement of fifteen organizations across government, private sector, and civil society – a milestone that signals broad-based backing for a new model of forest stewardship in Africa.

Launched at its inaugural congress in Nairobi in February 2026 and convened by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Africa, Zamba Heritage is designed to reposition forests as drivers of inclusive economic growth as well as environmental protection. The commitment of its founding endorsers provides an early indication of the initiative’s capacity to move from ambition to delivery.

The coalition’s strength lies in its composition. Governments – including those of Zambia, Gabon, and Kenya – are joined by the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA‑NEPAD) through the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). 

Together, they anchor the initiative in national and continental policy frameworks, signaling intent to integrate sustainable forest management into climate, biodiversity, and development strategies.

Alongside public actors, private sector endorsers bring a focus on market viability and operational execution. Purple Pod Ltd, a bamboo plantation developer focused on land restoration, CMO, a global supply chain transparency and legality organization, the Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA), representing small and medium sized commercial forestry producers, and Astrofica Technologies, an African geospatial data firm, illustrate the range of capabilities required to scale sustainable forest economies. From production and supply chains to monitoring and verification, their participation reflects a shared recognition that sustainability must work commercially to endure.

Civil society and community-based organizations provide a third, critical pillar. AJESH (Ajemalebu Self Help), a grassroots organization in Cameroon, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a global conservation body, bring complementary strengths – from community mobilization and local implementation to scientific expertise and conservation finance. Their involvement reinforces the principle that forest-dependent communities are central to both the design and delivery of sustainable forestry.

Taken together, the fourteen endorsers form more than a symbolic alliance. They represent a working coalition aligned around a common premise: that forests will only be conserved at scale if economic, social, and environmental priorities are addressed simultaneously.

For Zamba Heritage, the task now shifts from endorsement to execution. Its 2030 targets – including 30 million hectares under sustainable management and benefits for 2 million households – will depend on how effectively this coalition translates commitment into coordinated action.

The breadth of endorsement suggests that the foundation is in place. The test ahead lies in delivery.