Zambian teachers lead climate action in Kafue biosphere reserve
- Editorial Team SDG13
- 13 minutes ago
- 3 min read
In the heart of southern Africa, within the sweeping plains and forests of the Kafue Biosphere Reserve, a new generation of Zambian educators is being equipped to take on one of the most urgent challenges of our time — climate change. Through a UNESCO-led training programme, teachers are gaining the skills to embed climate education and biodiversity conservation directly into their classroom practices, transforming schools into hubs of environmental awareness and community resilience.
This initiative represents a strategic shift in the region’s approach to sustainability. Rather than treating climate change as an abstract global issue, the programme roots it in local experience. Teachers are trained to draw on Zambia’s own ecosystems — its rivers, forests, and wildlife — to explain the tangible effects of rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and habitat loss. Lessons extend beyond science textbooks, connecting climate literacy to traditional ecological knowledge and the everyday realities of farming, water use, and conservation.
Zambia’s vulnerability to climate disruption is already evident. Over the last two decades, the country has experienced increasingly erratic rainfall, leading to frequent droughts and crop failures that threaten food security. According to the Forestry Department, forest cover has declined by nearly 10 per cent, largely due to deforestation and unsustainable land use. Meanwhile, communities living near the Kafue ecosystem — one of Africa’s largest protected areas — face growing pressure as wildlife habitats shrink and natural resources become scarcer.
In this context, the role of teachers becomes transformative. By integrating climate literacy into formal education, they not only prepare students to understand environmental challenges but also empower them to act as young stewards of their environment. The training introduces participatory methods such as field observation, tree planting, and community-led conservation projects. These activities help students see the connection between their local environment and the wider global effort to combat climate change.
Equally significant is the programme’s community dimension. Teachers who complete the training are encouraged to share their knowledge beyond the school gates. They facilitate parent workshops, lead environmental clubs, and collaborate with local leaders to strengthen community resilience strategies. In this way, schools become platforms for collective adaptation — fostering dialogue between generations and reinforcing the idea that sustainable living is a shared responsibility.
The initiative also speaks directly to SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). It recognises that education is a cornerstone of long-term sustainability. Building the capacity of teachers to explain, illustrate, and inspire action on environmental issues can generate a multiplier effect — nurturing informed citizens who can make evidence-based decisions and champion local innovation.
According to UNESCO representatives, the Kafue programme is part of a broader regional effort to create a network of biosphere reserves where learning and conservation work hand in hand. These reserves serve not only as sites of ecological preservation but also as living laboratories where schools, scientists, and communities collaborate to address pressing environmental challenges.
The long-term vision is ambitious yet achievable: to ensure that every learner in Zambia — from rural villages to urban schools — develops the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future. Early evidence suggests that when students participate in hands-on environmental activities, they become more engaged in science, more confident in problem-solving, and more motivated to protect their surroundings.
By focusing on education as a tool for climate resilience, Zambia is laying the groundwork for an informed, active citizenry capable of driving sustainable development from the ground up. As these teachers return to their classrooms in the Kafue Biosphere Reserve, they carry more than new lesson plans; they carry the seeds of change — a curriculum of hope for both people and planet.
For further reading on global efforts linking climate education and biodiversity protection, visit UNESCO’s articles on climate action and related initiatives across Africa.
