In the once-barren land of Katete District, in Kalonga Gawa Undi’s chiefdom in eastern Zambia, a quiet transformation is taking root thanks to the determination of Evelyn Mwansa, whose new passion is to embrace and preserve nature.

Evelyn Mwansa, a 46-year-old mother of five, has become a beacon of environmental change
through her work in Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) a simple yet powerful land restoration technique she learned through training provided by World Vision.

For years, Evelyn and her community struggled with declining crop yields, eroded soils, and the loss of tree cover. “We used to cut down trees for firewood, charcoal, and farming without thinking about tomorrow,” Evelyn recalls. “Our land became dry, and the rains became unpredictable. That affected our harvest.”

In 2023, Evelyn was among 100 people selected by World Vision to participate in FMNR training in her village. The training opened her eyes to a method that didn’t require expensive equipment just knowledge, commitment, and a willingness to protect what nature had already provided.

“I learned that we didn’t need to plant new trees,” she says. “The roots were already there we just had to allow them to grow again.” Evelyn became one of the early adopters in her community. She began by identifying and protecting tree stumps in her fields, selectively pruning and nurturing shoots to naturally regenerate trees. The results were visible within a season cooler soil temperatures, improved crop performance, and the return of small wildlife.