FORESTS NEWS
Photo Essay / 21 Mar 2025
Nature’s pantry: How mushrooms are transforming lives in Zambia’s Miombo woodlands
They’ve always gathered mushrooms to eat—now, villagers are learning how these forest treasures can change their lives
Nestled in the heart of Zambia’s Muchinga Province, the Miombo woodlands spring to life with the rains. Beneath their towering canopy, rich in biodiversity, lies an unexpected treasure—wild mushrooms— that is quietly transforming lives: wild mushrooms.
In January this year, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) embarked on a mission to document this remarkable resource as part of the Zambia for Agroforestry, Biodiversity, and Climate – Z4ABC project. Partnering with nature photographers Catherine Marciniak and Steve Axford of PlanetFungi, the team set out to capture the magic and promise of fungi in the Miombo woodlands.
The upcoming documentary, Nature’s Pantry: Mushrooms of the Zambian Miombo, delves into how sustainable value chains are building resilience while unlocking new opportunities for local communities. Co-funded by the EU’s DeSIRA initiative and Finnish partners, the Z4ABC project is weaving together biodiversity, food security and economic empowerment— from the forest floor to international markets.
Into the heart of the Miombo
Our journey began early on a Saturday morning. A convoy of mushroom enthusiasts, scientists, photographers and communicators embarked on a 12-hour drive to Chiundaponde, a remote village deep in Muchinga Province. Laden with cameras, scientific equipment and supplies for a 10-day expedition, we arrived late at night, greeted by the towering trees and dense canopies of the Miombo woodlands.
The next morning, we ventured into the forest just beyond our chalets. As the sun broke through the dense canopy, an astonishing array of fungi species appeared. Mycologist Peter Mortimer led the team, documenting everything from delicate chanterelles to the larger-than-life termite mushrooms. The forest floor shimmered with brown, orange, yellow, and gold hues—painted by Termitomyces, Chantarelle and Amanita species.
A lifeline for communities
For generations, mushrooms have been a vital seasonal food staple in Zambia, providing essential nutrients during times of droughts and climatic uncertainty. Yet, their potential as a commercial commodity remained largely untapped—until recently.
“Mushrooms are gaining interest both locally and globally, not just as food but also for their medicinal properties,” explained Chilala Ndeke, Z4ABC’s landscape coordinator. “With shifting weather patterns making wild mushrooms scarce, we’re training communities in sustainable cultivation, harvesting and processing. It’s about conserving this resource while improving quality and accessibility.”
Through the Z4ABC project, local communities are learning how to properly clean, process and store mushrooms—skills that allow them to access markets across Africa and Europe. Beyond the economic benefits, the initiative empowers locals to take ownership of their natural resources, ensuring forests remain intact for future generations.
A game-changing innovation
One of the project’s most innovative approaches is the use of slurry treatment to stimulate mushroom growth. Borrowed from successful models in countries like China, this method involves creating a nutrient-rich mixture of water, starch, sugar, and mushroom spores. After weeks of fermentation, the slurry is spread on the forest floor, boosting fungal populations sustainably.
“It’s a game-changer,” said Mortimer. “This technique not only increases yields, but also reduces the need for wild harvesting, helping to preserve the delicate ecosystem.”
The team is also exploring the medicinal potential of certain mushrooms, blending traditional knowledge with modern scientific research to open new frontiers t in health and wellness.
