Moffat Mungazi
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
THE Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe has declared war on the rampant poaching of indigenous hardwood species across Manicaland, leading to the arresting of seven timber poachers, and recovery of over 10 tonnes of charcoal.
As the winter season approaches, the demand for charcoal has led to a surge in illegal timber harvesting in areas such as Chipinge, Burma Valley, Marange, Buhera, Ruwangwe, and Honde Valley.
Last year, Forestry Commission, in collaboration with law enforcement agents, busted a cross-border syndicate that was smuggling indigenous timber from Chipinge District into Mozambique.
Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe Manicaland Provincial Manager, Mr Philip Tom said though detecting poaching activities is challenging, as it often occurs under the cover of darkness, they have made significant breakthroughs, thanks to the cooperation of traditional leaders in affected areas, as well as support from law enforcement agencies and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
“We have so far arrested seven culprits for timber poaching in Manicaland since the onset of the winter season. We have confiscated about 10 tonnes of charcoal from the poachers. For every tonne of charcoal, you have to multiply by three to understand the number of trees that would have been burnt to produce the final product. This means we are losing a lot of trees.
“In terms of deforestation in the province, we are facing a challenge of an increase in illegal tree cutting. The demand for firewood and charcoal has risen, and this has become the key driver for deforestation. The hot spots areas are Buhera and Marange areas where poachers are cutting indigenous hard wood trees, and converting them into charcoal before transporting it to urban centres for sale.
“We are working with stakeholders and law enforcement agencies in tracking these poachers. Arrests have been made in Buhera, Marange and Honde Valley. There is also a challenge of cross-border poaching whereby Mozambican nationals sneak into Zimbabwe to poach trees, make charcoal in their country and bring it back here for sale. We have managed to stop such activities.
“Traditional leaders are our key stakeholders as they are contributing to the arrest of poachers by providing us with information on illegal timber logging in their areas. These poachers operate mainly during the night, be it cutting and transportation. This makes enforcement difficult, and we are collaborating with Zimbabwe Republic Police to set up roadblocks to search for timber and charcoal,” said Mr Tom.
Mr Tom added that in tobacco growing areas, there are still challenges of deforestation by farmers despite efforts by merchants to establish gum plantations through their Sustainable Afforestation Association (SAA).
He said farmers still prefer to cure tobacco using Musasa, Mutondo, Muunze and Mupfuti trees, among other indigenous species – depleting forests in the process.
“In the tobacco regions of Makoni District, Mutare North and western parts of Mutasa, we are witnessing the destruction of indigenous trees to cure the crop. We are trying our best to control the situation. We have engaged tobacco merchants to increase their exotic wood supply to farmers to cure tobacco.
“It seems farmers prefer to use indigenous hard wood trees to cure tobacco. The merchants are also doing their best through the SAA that is establishing plantations for the purpose of addressing energy requirements of the farmers. We are now in the fire season, and would like to sensitise communities that following the good rains we received, the province is at a very high risk of fires. Last year, we lost over 3 000 hectares of planation forest due to fires,” said Mr Tom.
Environmental activist, Mr Never Bonde implored authorities to tighten measures and strengthen the monitoring of illegal timber logging, which if left unchecked, will cause desertification.
“In Makoni District, right now forests in Inyati Mine area are under serious threat from tobacco farmers. Some people are actually running thriving wood selling businesses there. There is need to tighten monitoring and arrests of offenders.
“The main source of charcoal in Manicaland are Ruwangwe, Chipinge, Buhera and Marange. Logging timber for charcoal is a very dangerous practice that should be stopped. Some tree species will become extinct in the near future. A lot of trees which takes decades to mature are being destroyed without replacement,” said Mr Bonde.
Online Reporter