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In Western cultures, adolescence is often viewed as a time of rebellion and irresponsibility. A new article published in the journal Child Development Perspectives synthesized recent research on stereotypes of adolescence using an interdisciplinary approach which integrates developmental psychology, cultural psychology, and neuroscience.

A McLean Hospital study of 598 people across various industries who underwent a two-day training workshop where they learned about trauma-informed care and how to deploy these skills within their organizations, found participants reported significant gains in knowledge of trauma and made improvements to organizational policies, according to a comparison of survey data collected before and after the trainings.

About 80% of residents in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 by July 2023 and were at low risk for severe outcomes, but almost half of the oldest adults remained uninfected and were at highest risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, according to a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

It all started with a question from a reader in Missouri: “Can pumpkin seeds minimize an overactive bladder? Is it better to eat ground-up pumpkin seeds or whole seeds? How much is advisable?”

Outbreaks of cholera and dengue fever in war-torn Sudan have left more than 100 people dead since August, the health ministry said on Saturday.

By Salima Mvula

Deforestation is known to be one of the largest drivers of land degradation, caused by human activities such as charcoal production, logging, forest fires, wood fuel collection, and shifting agriculture.

In an interview with WeForest Country Director, Fainess Lumbwe, she expressed to WCP Zambia that the alarming rates of deforestation have caused the degradation of the most dominant landscape in Zambia, the Miombo Woodlands.

The Miombo Woodlands form a broad belt across north-central Zambia, covering around 68 percent of the total forest cover. It provides multiple uses for many millions of people: especially the rural poor who are highly dependent on the wood from the forest for construction, charcoal, and medicinal purposes. Miombo is characterized by open woodland, dominated by Brachystegia species, locally known as ‘Muputu’ which are characterized by having hard timber. With rising poverty levels and population growth, there is enormous pressure on the woodlands to meet human development needs and livelihood demands.

According to Ms. Lumbwe, reports indicate that Zambia is losing 250,000 to 300,000 hectares of forest land annually because of these demands. In response to this crisis, WeForest engaged in forest landscape restoration projects in the Miombo Woodlands, focusing particularly on the Copperbelt and Muchinga provinces.

She explained that restoration efforts are achieved through sustainable forestry management using Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) among local farmers who have settled within the Miombo Woodlands. The farmers are provided with knowledge on the use of ANR to protect and nurture native tree seedlings. The farmers are taught to harvest biomass from their portion of woodlands through coppicing, a technique that involves extracting wood from tree stems while leaving the total number of trees intact, making it a sustainable alternative to charcoal production.

“Miombo woodlands have the capacity for natural regeneration. Once a tree is cut it will form a coppice. It is from this coppice that a new tree will be formed,” she said.

Ms Lumbwe added that planting exotic trees in the Miombo Woodlands has been discouraged as they affect nutrients in the soil. Trees in the Miombo woodlands invest most of their growth underground in the root system, which allows for quick regeneration through the tree stumps above ground. In a statement shared by Trees 4 Zambia nursery manager Samson Susu, he discouraged the planting of exotic trees as they can become invasive weeds that destroy ecosystems. Exotic plants are not integrated into local ecology and require a lot of water and maintenance in comparison to indigenous trees increasing the energy inputs needed to keep them alive.

WeForest’s community engagement extends to promoting forest-friendly businesses like beekeeping, which helps local farmers generate sustainable incomes while conserving the trees within Miombo Woodlands. The income gained offers an alternative means to sustain their livelihood, which deters them from engaging in detrimental environmental activities such as charcoal production. This also incentivises sustainable forestry management, encouraging the farmers to participate in the initiative.

“In the short term, it may not give them the same returns as charcoal production. With charcoal production, you will gain a lot of money at once but have nothing afterward because you have cut all the trees. Whereas beekeeping income may not give you as high a return immediately, however, the income will be sustainable over the long term,” Ms Lumbwe noted.

She explained that honey production companies like Wild Hive assist with beehive supply, farmer training, and honey purchasing. This initiative has supported approximately 3,200 farmers, yielding up to 53 tonnes of honey in the last harvesting season.

However, without effective management of fires within the woodland forest, restoration is very difficult. Ms Lumbwe heavily emphasized their organization’s huge focus on fire management, as late-season fires and wildfires spread across the forestry, and cause degradation of the land.

“You cannot eliminate fire. It is part of the Miombo Woodland ecosystem, the farmers are encouraged to engage in early season burning around June-July to reduce intensive fires experienced later in the year,” she explained.

Controlled burning during the cold season reduces the impact of late-season fires – a natural part of the Miombo Woodland ecosystem. It prevents damage to seedlings and the soil, critical for successful restoration.

In summary, forest landscape restoration through sustainable forestry management, supported by initiatives such as assisted natural regeneration and fire management plays a pivotal role in balancing human needs and the conservation of this precious natural resource.

Born with a deadly blood disease, Clint and Alissa Finlayson’s adopted daughters—Ada, nine, and Lily, 12—are the first patients on the West Coast to receive a new gene therapy offered by UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.

GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Information and Media has started negotiations of a better deal to resume the halted digital migration phases two and three.

…as Numba and ‘Chicken George’ renew rivalry

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

AS the MTN Zambia Super League enters its ninth round, followers of the Zambian game will be asking if the Kitwe giants Nkana FC will be able to recover to collect their first win of the season when they face Prison Leopards after struggling with five defeats and three draws in the first eight games.

Kalampa are bottom on the FAZ Super League table with three points, 14 points behind the table toppers Red Arrows who have enjoyed five wins, two draws and only one defeat.

After coming close to winning their first game last weekend where they were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Napsa Stars, Nkana will be seeking redemption against a Prison Leopards side with its own challenges to fight.

The Kabwe outfit now led by new coach Chris Kaunda has struggled with four defeats and one draw in the last five games and are 15th on the log with six points collected from one win, three draws and four defeats.

Today’s clash at President Stadium in Kabwe presents a tough test for both Kaunda and Ian Bakala who are yet to take victories since they took over at Prison Leopards and Nkana FC respectively.

Both Prison Leopards and Nkana FC have weak defence lines having conceded 10 and eight goals respectively.

Unlike Nkana who have only managed to score three goals in eight games, Prison Leopards boast of having one of the strongest frontlines with a goal ratio of one goal per game.

Meanwhile, Red Arrows will fight for maximum points when they meet Konkola Blades at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe to maintain top spot on the log.

Motivated by their victory over Napsa Stars, Prison Leopards and Nkwazi in the last three games, the Airmen are the favourites going into today’s fixture because Blades have only managed one win in the last five games and are 16th on the log with six points.

As they face the Airmen, Blades will be seeking to recover from two consecutive defeats to Kabwe Warriors and sensational Zanaco who thumped them 2-0 and 3-0 respectively.

In the lunch time kick off at Konkola Stadium, “Mighty” Mufulira Wanderers will seek to bounce back from the painful 1-0 defeat to FC Muza who have a date with Napsa Stars at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.

At Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola, George Lwandamina and Mumamba Numba will renew their rivalry when Zesco United and Kabwe Warriors face off in a match which promises sparks.

The two sides are enjoying good form after eight games, and both share the same statistics with the same number of points, 15 points collected from four wins, three draws and one loss each.

Motivated by the 2-0 beating of defending champions Power Dynamos last weekend, Warriors will be seeking revenge for the 1-0 defeat suffered the last time they faced the Ndola giants

At Independence Stadium in Choma, struggling Green Eagles will fight to recover from the painful service derby loss to Green Buffaloes when they host Trident FC.

Like Nkana FC, Trident are yet to taste victory in the Super League since winning promotion from the National Division one league.

High Flying Nkwazi will do everything possible to forget their 4-0 thumping by Red Arrows last weekend when they host the Zeddy Saileti-tutored Mutondo Stars at Edwin Imboela Stadium.

Tomorrow, Green Buffaloes will welcome Kansanshi Dynamos while defending champions Power Dynamos will seek to bounce back from two consecutive defeats when they face rejuvenated Sensational Zanaco FC at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.

GERMANY is impressed with the economic reforms Zambia is undertaking under President Hakainde Hichilema and has pledged to support the country programmes meant to alleviate poverty.