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THE African continent and the world at large should work together in planting and preserving forests, given their importance in fighting climate change, boosting people’s health and as an income generator for countries, Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said yesterday.
She was speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the first International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation underway here, where Vice President Kembo Mohadi is leading Zimbabwe’s delegation.
Permanent Secretary in VP Mohadi’s Office, Dr Benson Martins Dube, and Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary, , are also attending the conference.
Minister Nyoni said people had been indiscriminately cutting down trees and starting veld fires out of lack of knowledge of their centrality in society.
She said the afforestation conference, which ends today with African leaders making presentations, was a perfect platform for the continent and world to exchange notes on preserving forests.
“People were underestimating the role of forests in climate change and also the role of forests in our health,” said Minister Nyoni.
“As Zimbabwe, we are very aware of the importance of forests, not just for cleaning the air, but also as an economic asset for the nation.
“So, we are bringing here the importance of biodiversity because each country has its own biodiversity which is different from the other.”
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In Zimbabwe, she said, people were not focusing much on biodiversity given the extensive cutting down of trees.
“Now we are saying no, let’s look at our biodiversity because it is there for a reason. That is why I would like the people of Zimbabwe to take the wetlands very seriously because the wetlands and forests are where our ground water is held,” she said.
Awareness programmes have now been embarked upon to educate people on the centrality of forests as an income generator through agroforestry, bee-keeping and growing mushrooms for sale and national nutrition.
“We are also learning here that climate change knows no bounds; if in Zambia they cut trees, it doesn’t matter what you do in Zimbabwe, if climate change affects Zambia, our neighbour, it will also affect us.
“So, we need to take a regional approach and also a global approach in planting trees,” she said. There is debate in Zimbabwe on what trees to plant to replenish forests, with some advocating for gumtrees and others indigenous trees.
It is feared that gumtrees can deplete groundwater since their roots can go down up to 20 metres. Some say gumtrees are important for curing tobacco and as timber for roofing, compared to other species, since they are very fast growing and have very straight trunks.
Minister Nyoni said when she joined the Environment ministry, she also found the debate raging, but has elected not to take sides until institutions of higher education have conducted empirical research on the advantages and disadvantages of gumtrees for each set purpose.
The college run by the Forestry Commission in Mutare, she added, must enrol students from across Zimbabwe and teach them to propagate and plant their own trees according to ecological zones.
Experts have also called for a Pfumvudza-like approach to tree planting, allowing regions to plant trees that will thrive in the different ecological regions.
Turning to tobacco farmers, the Ministry of Environment is working with them through the Forestry Commission to ensure they plant trees for the wood they need for curing instead of just chopping them down.
Online Reporter