Forest #27 in Leopards Hill is one of the last untouched pieces of Zambian natural forest. It is a small piece of paradise that has survived the destruction of the Lusaka development boom. There are thousands of mature and gorgeous trees that supports a mighty amount of birds and natural life and also serve as a needed source of oxygen and water caption for the area. But government now wants to sell of pieces of this land to Chinese developers who will destroy it for future generations.

Some facts taken from an article: Chalimbana community rises against govt for encroaching on forest reserve
By Mukosha Funga on 21 Sep 2017

"The brief history of the local forest is that it was gazzetted as a local forest in order to use it exclusively for conservation so that the land is protected and to protect water supplies in the local area. Studies have also shown that Local Forest Reserve No. 27 is a recharge area for the Chalimbana River and its tributaries and as such is a very important forest. Further, the forest is located within the Lower Zambezi River Basin which is covered under the SADC and Zambezi River Commission protocols to which Zambia is a party. In addition, Zambia under its commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Paris Agreement under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) has been using forests including Forest Reserve 27 to sequester the emission of greenhouse gasses. This was even referred to by President Edgar Lungu when he addressed the United Nations Secretariat in September last year. Our clients have therefore been perturbed at the activities that are taking place in the local forest,”

“It is also important to note that Forest Reserve No 27 is one of the only two remaining open green spaces in Lusaka for Education, heritage and its invaluable ecosystem services as shown in the studies that have been made. The above being the case our clients have been alarmed to discover that in addition to the illegal activities already taking place in the local forest, government has now promulgated Statutory Instrument No. 62 of 2017, the aim of which is to further reduce the area of the Forest Reserve No. 27. This alteration will consequently reduce the effectiveness of the original purpose of the said forest reserve which has been fought for by the local community, shareholder farmers and all those concerned with the protection of our environment,”

Please help save this forest by signing this digital petition. We need to save this healthy space for our children.