…says 262 000 hectares of forests lost annually
Melinda Kusemachibi
Forestry Commission, a parastatal under the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry said they are targeting to plant 25 million on the National Tree Planting day on Saturday December 04.
The commission said approximately 262 000 hectares of forests are lost annually due to various factors among them expansion of arable land, demand for wood fuel, construction poles as well as urban expansion.
Speaking to TellZim News, Forestry Commission Information and Communications manager, Violet Makoto said their organization is targeting to plant around 25 million trees countrywide on the National Tree Planting.
“We are losing 262 000ha per annum. It is a common knowledge that as a country, there is population growth with the consequential expansion leading to clearing of land by settlers, for agriculture and gold panning which leads to deforestation.
After four years we do what is called Forest Inventory looking at our land cover map, you will find that forests are actually being destroyed due to cutting down of trees.
“This years’ theme is ‘Trees and Forests for Ecosystem Restoration and Improved Livelihood’. We have a national event to be held at Masvingo Primary school in Mberengwa this coming weekend,” said Makoto.
Makoto encouraged tobacco farmers to grow eucalyptus (gumtrees) trees at their farms to use for drying tobacco so as to preserve natural trees.
“We encourage tobacco farmers to plant their own trees for curing the crop so as to create renewable source of energy. This will preserve the natural resource and give people other alternatives to decrease cases of cutting down indigenous trees,” said Makoto.
Chief Murinye born Ephias Munodawafa said that cutting down of trees is a major issue that should be looked at closely.
“Around Great Zimbabwe Monuments area, trees were cut down and we have enforced a policy that everyone seen cutting down trees will be punished. It is a tourist attraction that would attract tourists with flora and fauna.
“People should not cut down trees as that leads to deforestation. In our area those seen with loads of firewood will be punished,” said Munodawafa.
Chief Nemauzhe born Nelson Murandu from Chivi South said they enforced a policy that caused a decline in deforestation in their area of jurisdiction.
“Tree cutting is prohibited in my area. No one is allowed to cut down trees. If you are seen cutting down trees, you will pay a fine to the Chief’s court. That is what we are doing in our area and ever since we enforced, a decline in deforestation has been noticed in our area,” said Murandu.
Moulding of farm bricks has seen an increase in demand for wood fuel due to lack of money to purchase coal and high electricity costs.
The shortage of electricity in the country has for now been the major catalyst for deforestation which is threatening to reach unprecedented levels.
It is also estimated that Zimbabwe is losing its vegetation cover at a staggering rate of 300 000ha per annum. Population pressure has resulted in excessive utilization of forests leading to a rapid depletion of the forest resources in most areas.
There has been an increase in fire damages on forest and agricultural lands in recent years. Many of those fires on the forests have been caused by either illegal settlers or farmers trying to prepare land for agriculture.
In 2008, Plantation Forestry Industry lost about 10 percent of their forests to fire, an area of about 15 000ha.
Illegal settlements on forestry land particularly demarcated forests brings with it illegal activities such as gold panning, animal and timber poaching, forest fires and deforestation. Illegal poaching of wood for sale in urban areas is common in most areas around the country.
In 2010, Zimbabwe had 1,06mha of trees cover extending over 2,7% of its land. In 2020, the country lost 6.22kha of tree cover, equivalent to 2,84mt of CO2of emissions from 2002 to 2020, Zimbabwe lost 825ha of humid primary forest, making up 0,4%of its total tree cover loss in the same time period. Total area of humid primary forest in Zimbabwe by 11% in this time period.
From 2002 to 2020, Zimbabwe lost 215kha of tree cover, equivalent to a 15% decrease in tree cover since 2000 and 83,2mt of CO2 of the emissions.
