(i)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
THE COMPLETION OF MY GEOGRAPHY FIELD PROJECT WOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT THE HELP I RECEIVED
FROM MY PARENTS, MR AND MRS MACHACHA, AND MY
GEOGRAPHY TEACHER, MR MUCHANGA A.J WHO HELPED ME
IN GATHERING ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR THE
COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT.
 (ii)

DEDICATION
I AM DEEPLY HONOURED TO DEDICATE THIS PROJECT TO MY
ESTEEMED TEACHER, MR MUCHANGA A.J. HIS GUIDANCE AND
EXPERTISE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING AND MY
UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUBJECT MATTER AND REFINING MY
PROJECT`S DIRECTION.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS PROJECT TO MY
DEAR PARENTS. THEIR ENDLESS LOVE, UNWAVERING SUPPORT
AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAVE EMPOWERED ME TO STRIVE FOR
EXCELLENCE.
 (iii)

DECLARATION
I HERE BY DECLARE THAT THIS FIELD PROJECT ON THE TOPIC
DEFORESTAION WAS BASED ON MY WORK UNDER THE
SUPERVISION OF MR MUCHANGA A.J. THIS PROJECT WAS
DONE BY ME AND NO ONE OTHER THAN ME.
 CHAPTER 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
DEFORESTION IS THE WIDESPREAD OR MASSIVE CLEARING, REMOVAL OR
DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS, PRIMARILY FOR HUMAN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
AGRICULTURE, LOGGING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. IT INVOLVES THE
CONVERSION OF FORESTED AREAS INTO NON-FOREST AREAS. THE EFEECTS OF
DEFORESTATION ARE FAR REACHING, AMONG OTHERS ARE, LOSS OF BIO-DIVERSITY,
PRO-LONGED CLIMATE CHANGE, SOIL EROSION AND LAND DEGRADATION.
LOCATION OF STUDY AREA
 THIS PROJECT WAS CARRIED OUT IN MASAITI AREA WHICH IS AN AREA
LOCATED IN THE WEST PART OF NDOLA.
 

CHAPTER 2
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
THE AIM OF THIS REVIEW IS TO IDENTIFY PERTINENT STUDIES THAT ALIGN WITH
OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT BASED ON THE SCHOLARLY WORK ESTABLISHED BU
OTHER RESEARCHERS.
THE REVIEW ON DEFORESTATION PRIMARILY EXAMINES WHY IT OCCURS AND
HOW IT AFFECTS BOTH TH ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
AFFECTED AREAS.
ACCORDING TO GERSHOM NSAMA (AN AUTHOR WHO WROTE THE MK
TEXTBOOK) DEFINES DEFORESTATION AS THE CUTTING DOWN OF TREES, BUSHES
AND OTHER FORMS OF VEGETATION. IN ADDITION, THE OXFORD DICTIONARY
DEFINES DEFORESTATION AS SIMPLY THE CUTTING DOWN OF TREES. THE TWO
DEFINITIONS HIGHLIGHTS THAT A FOREST AREA MAY BE TURNED INTO A NON
FOREST AREA IF DEFORESTATION IS NOT STOPPED. DEFORESTATION MAY ALSO
AFFECT THE NATURAL HABITAT FORCING ANIMALS TO SHIFT.

2.1 CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION

THERE ARE SEVERAL CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING;
 FOREST AREAS ARE USUALLY DEFORESTED IN ORDER TO CREATE SPACE FOR
FARMLANDS. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS SHIFTING CULTIVATION WHICH INVOLVES
THE CUTTING DOWN OF TREES FOR FARMING.
AREAS ARE DEFORESTED IN ORDER TO USE THE TREES AS A SOURCE OF FUEL.
LOCAL PEOPLE OF MASAITI SAID THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY STOVES
AND RESORT TO USE TREES AS A SOURCE OF FUEL. E.g CHARCOAL.
DEFORESTATION IS AS A RESULT OF ANIMA AGRICULTURE AND HIGH DEMAND
OF WOOD PRODUCTS WHICH ATTRACT A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO PRACTISE IT.
LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, TREES ARE CUT DOWN FOR COMMERCIAL
EXPLOITATION OF TIMBER.
2.2 CONSEQUENCES OF DEFORESTATION
DEFORESTATION IF NOT CONTROLLED, AVOIDED OR CURBED CAN LEAD TO THE
FOLLOWING EFFECTS;
PROLONGED CLIMATE CHANGE ESPECIALLY RAINFALL PATTERNS. THIS IS
BECAUSE TREES ARE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE FORMATION OF RAINFALL.
DEFORESTATION CAUSES DISPLACEMENT OF WILDLIFE. DUE TO THIS FACT, THE
NATURAL BEAUTY AMD HABITAT OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS ALTERED NEGATIVELY.
IT ALSO LEADS TO SOIL EROSION, IN THAT, THE REMOVAL OF VEGETATION
COVER EXPOSES THE TOP SOIL TO WIND AND WATER EROSION. THE REMOVAL OF
THIS SOIL DEGRADES FARMLANDS AND RENDERS THEM USELESS FOR AGRICULTURE.

2.3 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO DEFORESTATION

ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA, ONE OF THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO
DEFORESTAION IS BY PRACTISING AFFORESTAION AND RE-AFFORESTAION. WHICH IS
THE PLANTING OF NEW TREES ON A AN AREA WHERE THERE WERE NO TREES OR THEY
WERE CUT DOWN, RESPECTIVELY. THIS WAY DEFORESTATION IS COMPESATED.
ZAMBIA EVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY (ZEMA) IS A DEPARTMENT
UNDER FOREST MANAGEMNT. ZEMA HAS COME UP WITH A LAW WHICH STATES THAT
WHOEVER IS FOUND CUTTING TREES ANYHOW SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO A STIFF
PUNISHMENT.
EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING FORESTS BY
NOT PRACTISING DEFORESTATION WILL HELP STOP CUTTING DOWN OF TREES.
 DEFORESTATION CAN ALSO BE PREVENTED OR STOPPED BY ENCOURAGING
PEOPLE TO UTILISE OTHER SOURCES OF ENRGY SUCH AS BIOGAS.
 CHAPTER 3
3.0 METHODOLOGY
THE RESEARCH METHOD IMPLORED IN THE COLLECTION OF DATA WAS DONE
USING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY METHODS.
3.1 PRIMARY METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
PRIMARY DATA WAS COLLECTED THROUGH THE USE OF A VARIETY OF
METHODS WHICH INCLUDE; INTERVIEWS, UNDER INTERVIEWS AND A QUESTIONAIRE.
ATTACHED IS A QUESTIONAIRE IN THE APPENDICES. THIS PROVED TO BE THE MOST
EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT METHOD DURING THE RESEARCH. SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE
INTERVIEWED AND GAVE FIRST HAND INFORMATION ON DEFORESTATION. THE SECOND
METHOD WAS OBSERVATION, THE STUDY INCLUDED SEEING THE WAY MASAITI AREA
HAVE BEEN CLEARED AND HOW IT IS AFFECTING THE LOCAL PEOPLE.
3.2 SECONDARY METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION
SECONDARY DATA WAS COLLECTED THROUGH THE REDING OF BOOKS AND
RESEARCH OF BOOKS AND RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. BOOKS PROVED WELL IN
BRINGING OUT INFORMATION TOWARDS THIS PROJECT. IT HAS SHAPED THE NATURE
AND EXCELLENCE OF THIS FIELD PROJECT.
 CHAPTER 4
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION
DEFORESTATION IS THE MASSIVE CUT DOWN OF TREES FROM THE LAND AND
THE LAND IS CONVERTED TO A NON FOREST AREA.
4.1 CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION
DEFORESTATION IS CAUSED BY A NUMBER OF FACTORS WHICH HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSED BELOW:
4.1.1 URBANISATION IS THE INCREASE IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN
URBAN AREAS. THIS INCREASE LEADS TO MORE LAND BEING CLEARED AND MAKING
THE PLACE FOR THE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.
4.1.2 MINING ALSO CAUSES DEOFORESTATION BECAUSE IT INVOLVES THE CUTTING
DOWN OF TREES BEFORE THE MINING PROCESS CAN COMMENCE ON THE MINERAL
BEARING LAND.
4.1.3 POPULATION GROWTH: WITH THE INCREASE IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE
LIVING, THE OVERALL WORLD CONSUMPTION LEVELS ALSO INCREASE. THIS MEANS
THAT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH GOALS, SUCH AS, WOOD GUITARS
THAT REQUIRE TIMBER FROM TREES.
4.14 BAD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES SUCH AS SHIFTING CULTIVATION INVOLVE
CUTTING DOWN TREES WHICH ARE LATER DRIED AND BURNT TO ASHES. THE AREA
WHISH HAS BEEN DEFORESTED IS LATER USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.
4.2 CONSEQUENSES OF DEFORESTATION
THERE ARE A LOT OF CONSEQUENCES ATTACHED TO DEFORESTATION WHICH
INCLUDE;
4.2.1 FORESTS ACT AS HOMES FOR WILDLIFE AND WHEN THOSE TREES ARE CUT DOWN,
ANIMALS ARE DENIED A PLACE TO LIVE. HENCE, THEY ARE FORCED TO MOVE.
4.2.2 CUTTING DOWN TREES LEADS TO GLOBAL WARMING AND PROLONGED WEATHER
PATTERNS. THIS IS BECAUSE TREES PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE
MAINTANENCE OF CLIMATE.
4.2.3 SOIL EROSION IS THE REMOVAL OF THE TOP SOIL. DEFORESTATION CAUSES THE
TOP SOIL TO BE EXPOSED TO AGENTS OF EROSION SUCH AS WIND AND RUNNING
WATER.
4.3 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO DEFORESTATION
WAYS IN WHICH DEFORESTATION CAN BE PREVENTED OR COMPESATED
INCLUDE;
4.3.1 ENACTING STIFF PUNISHMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FOUND CUTTING TREES
ANYHOW
4.3.2 SENSITISING THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH CUTTING
DOWN OF TREES AND THE BENEFITS TREES HAVE IN THE ENIRONMENT CAN PLAY A
MAJOR ROLE.
4.3.2 IT CAN ALSO BE STOPPED BY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE OTHER FORMS OF
ENERGY SUCH AS BIOGAS. ISTEAD OF THEM DEPENDING MAINLY ON TREES FOR
CHARCOAL.
 CHAPTER 5
5.0 DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
THIS CHAPTER REVIES THE DEPENDENCY OF PEOPLE AND COMPANIES ON
TREES. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED TO THE LOCAL PEOPLE OF MASAITI TO FIND
OUT ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND COMPANIES RELYING ON TREES FOR SEVERAL
REASONS.SOME OF THE DATA COLLECTED ON THE EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION ARE AS
FOLLOWS

EFECTS OF DEFORESTATION

GLOBAL WARMING SOIL EROSION DISPLACEMENT OF WILDLIFE

THE RESEARCHER FURTHER INQUIRED ON WHAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE DID FOR THE
GENERATION OF INCOME.AND ALSO HOW MANY SECTORS DEPENDED ON TREES FOR
MOST ACTIVITIES. BELOW IS A BAR CHART SHOWING THIS INFORMATION
 95%

85%

75%

65%

55%
Axis Title

45%

35%

25%

15%

5%

Axis Title
 CHAPTER 8
8.0 RECOMMENDATION

HAVING EXAMINED THE IMPACTS OF DEFORESTATION AND ITS DRIVERS, THE

RESEARCHER URGES THE LOCAL PEOPLE OF MASAITI AND THE NATION AT LARGE TO
IMPLEMEMENT POLICIES AIMED AT HALTING FOREST DESTRUCTION AND PROMOTE
SUSTAINABLE LAND USE. THESE INCLUDE:

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CREATE A HUGE EMPLOYMENT TO DISCOURAGE

PEOPLE WHO EARN MONEY THROUGH CHARCOAL BURNING.

EDUCATION

TEACHING THE LOCAL PEOPLE OF MASAITI AREA ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF

CONSERVING FORESTS IS ANOTHER WAY TO AVOID DEFORESTATION.

TREE PLANTING PROJECTS

INTRODUCING TREE PLANTING PROJECTS IN SCHOOL. THIS IS WHERE STUDENTS

ARE GIVEN A CHANCE TO PLANT TREES AND HENCE PROMOTING AFFORESTATION AND
RE-AFFORESTATION.

OTHER SOURCES OF ENERGY

USING OTHER RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY IS ANOTHER WAY OF

ERADICATING DEFORESTATION. EXAMPLES ARE, WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY.
 TABLE OF CONTENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (i)
DEDICATION (ii)
DECLARATION (iii)
CHAPTER 1 1
INTRODUCTION
AIMS
OBJECTIVES
CHAPTER 2 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER 3 3
METHODOLOGY
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION
CHAPTER 4 4
DATA PRESENTATION
CHAPTER 5 5
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA INTERPRETATION
CHAPTER 6 6
PROBLEMS AND LIMITATION
CHAPTER 7 7
CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 8 8
RECOMMENDATION
 CHAPTER 6
6.0 PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS
THIS PROJECT CAME ABOUT WITH MANY ATTACHED PROBLEMS AND
LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH WERE;

6.1 FATIGUE (RESTLESS)

DURING DATA COLLECTIONS, THE RESEARCHER HAD TO MOVE LONG DISTANCES

WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BE EXTRMELY TIRED.
6.2 TIME CONSUMING
A LOT OF TIME WAS SPENT ON INTERVIEWING THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND BECAUSE IT
WAS NOT DONE ON THE SAME DAY, THE RESEARCHER HAD TO MOVE TO AND FRO
MASAITI AREA
6.3 FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
THE RESEARCHER HAD FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AS A LOT OF MONEY WAS SPENT ON
TRANSPORT AND FOOD.
6.4 LANGUAGE BARRIER
MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN MASAITI AREA DID NOT KNOW THE LANGUAGE THAT THE
RESEARCHER WAS SPEAKING AS A RESULT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE RESEARCHER TO
ASK QUESTIONS.
6.5 FEAR OF EVICTION
MANY OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF OPEN INTERVIEWS AS THEY FEARED
GETTIONG EVICTED FROM THE AREA.
6.6 ILLITERACY
QUESTIONAIRES DID NOT PROVE TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE AS A LOT OF THE LOCAL
PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO READ AND WRITE.
 CHAPTER 7
7.0 CONCLUSION
THIS CHAPTER REVIEWS THE BACKGROUND OF THIS PROJECT BY GIVING AN
OVERVIEW OF THE FORESTS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS
PROJECT HAS POINTED OUT THE BACKGROUND OF DEFORESTATION WHICH
INCLUDE, ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES. IT HAS ALSO BROUGHT OUT THE
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEFORESTATION.
LASTLY, THIS PROJECT HAS ALSO REFLECTED ON THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE
RESEARCHER FOR CONDUCTING THIS FIELD PROJECT.
 MINISRTY OF GENERAL EDUCATION
NAME: MACHACHA MUCHEMWA

EXAMINATION NUMBER: 190510200028

SCHOOL: KANSENSHI SECONDARY

GRADE: 12

SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY

TEACHER: MR MUCHANGA A.J

YEAR: 2024

TOPIC: FORESTRY

TITLE: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF DEFORESTATION

A CASE STUDY OF MASAITI AREA