Held in Lusaka, the workshop was facilitated by Vincent Ziba from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with contributions from Arthur Parry of Just One Tree Foundation.
The training began virtually, with foundational lessons on how to establish and manage a tree nursery. Participants explored principles of community forest governance, including the role of forestry user groups. The day also covered strategies for resource mobilization, emphasizing private sector financing for tree planting, and concluded with tools for monitoring and reporting.
Day two(2) Covered the full tree planting cycle:
On 25–26 September, participants visited Lusaka-based nurseries for hands-on experience. These field visits reinforced the lessons learned and gave youth a chance to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.
For the youth that YPARD Zambia serves, tree nursery and community forestry management are more than just environmental interventions—they're pathways to empowerment, resilience and opportunity. These practices cultivate not only trees, but also skills, livelihoods, and a sense of ownership among youth and communities. By bridging ecological responsibility with economic value, nursery management turns stewardship into sustainable enterprise and climate action into everyday impact.
At the end of the training, YPARD Zambia participants shared their reflections through TikTok, with one post creatively capturing the experience in the form of a poem. Find TikTok Reflection one and Reflection two. The videos highlighted key lessons and celebrated youth-led action for sustainability, emphasizing the passion and purpose driving YPARD in Zambia’s reforestation movement.
This initiative, supported by the FACE-NDC Project, strengthens YPARD Zambia’s capacity to lead youth-driven reforestation efforts and contribute meaningfully to sustainable land use and climate resilience.
