By Virginia Njovo
Community Based Aid Programme (CBAP), recently trained farmers in Zimuto area on forest regeneration, aimed at restoring deforested areas using natural methods.
Zimuto area falls under Region IV in the Southern part of Zimbabwe, known for having a variety of vegetation species as well as being a game ranching area but had been ravaged by deforestation and climate change.
The reforestation drive is aimed at restoring the lush canopy of destroyed forests by the local farmers as well as maintaining the remaining vegetation as they conduct their farming activities.
Facilitating the training at Zimuto Township on August 19, 2024, CBAP director Samuel Mhungu said they had a vision of a greener tomorrow which involved maintaining the remaining natural trees in Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC), starting with Wards 1, 2, and 19.
“We are training traditional leaders, with the goal of making them lead their communities in the thinning process, so as to restore forests and reduce carbon emissions, ultimately improving oxygen levels,” said Mhungu.
The group presentations at the training revealed that in 1980, the Zimuto area was known for growing wheat and rice in its wetlands, which today is non-existent as there are no more wetlands left.
They also pointed out that due to deforestation, there was no more game left in the area, which was previously known for a variety of wild animals.
Chief Zimuto’s representative at the training Fortune Shawarira said they welcomed the regeneration project since they also had the desire to have their old identity of where they were known for agricultural production.
“This natural regeneration project is a valuable initiative because of its goals and objectives in restoring the pride of Zimuto. Zimuto was historically known for traditional rice production in our wetlands (deketa), which no longer exist today. Our area was also renowned for its diverse game meat, attracting people from various places to come and hunt. However we nolonger have wild animals here.
Reforestation is a complementary approach to protection and maintaining the earth’s forests. In Zimbabwe landscapes, forests are highly degraded while in some cases they have been completely cleared.
