adminusually by excessive or inappropriate exploitation.
Land degradation is caused by multiple forces, including extreme weather conditions particularly drought and human activities that pollute or degrade the quality of soils and land utility negatively affecting food production, livelihoods and the production and provision of other ecosystem goods and services.
The degradation of land in Zimbabwe is a matter of considerable concern.
Major causes of land degradation?
- soil erosion
- loss of soil fertility
- soil structure change
- salinisation
- soil pollution
- desertification
- deforestation
- loss of vegetation cover
- Invasive alien species
- overuse of irrigation water
- Inappropriate use of marginal land
- Veld fires
Impact of land degradation?
- Increased risks of floods and erosion
- Loss of soil fertility
- shortage of local surface water resources
- lack of water for irrigation
- loss of biodiversity
- Increased level of saline groundwater, soil salinity
- propagation of invasive species —genetic changes
- decreasing yields in agriculture
- dust-related human health problems due to wind erosion, e.g. throat, nostril and lung infections.
Did you know?
In Zimbabwe soil erosion carries away an annual average of 1,6 million tonnes of nitrogen, 15,6 million tonnes of organic matter and 0,24 million tonnes of phosphorus.
On this basis, the arable lands alone lose 17,8 million tonnes of soil nutrients each year due to land degradation.
Land degradation does not have to be permanent
Recent studies show that up to two billion hectares of degraded land and forest globally have the potential for restoration.
There are many ways to restore degraded land, such as through enriching soil, planting trees and diversifying crop and animal production.
Restoring degraded lands can also offer solutions to climate change, as healthy soils and vegetation store more carbon.
There are many benefits to sustainable land management, which can simultaneously conserve natural resources and increase yields. These benefits can include:
(i) Increased crop yields and food security.
(ii) Local access to sustainable fuel and energy sources.
(iii) Clean water.
(iv) Increased vegetation cover preventing erosion.
(v) Preservation of soil moisture, enabling soil development and mitigating degradation.
(vi) Optimised water, nutrient, carbon and biomass cycle
(vii) Preservation of biodiversity at the farm level through agroforestry, intercropping and locally adapted seed.
Other advantages
- Reconstituting carbon pools in soil and vegetation cover resulting in less carbon emissions.
- Reducing floods through regulation of river, lake and groundwater levels.
- Protection of cultural heritage and natural landscapes through promoting practices that utilize indigenous knowledge.
What is EMA doing?
EMA is working in partnership with development partners like UNDP and GEF, as well as working with local communities and local authorities in undertaking drought mitigation projects and land rehabilitation programmes. Such projects include:
- Fire management projects: Communities are taught how to construct standard fireguards and a total of 32 sites have been demonstrated on.
- Environmental rehabilitation:
1. Projects such as gully rehabilitation namely Dzimbahwe gully in Mashonaland Central Province and Chireya gully in Gokwe South.
2.EMA has been involved in the eradication of invasive alien species, such as Opuntiafulgida locally known as Jumping Cholla among other names owing to its intricate magnetic and easy detachment behaviour has greatly reduced the productivity of range-lands.
This has resulted in the loss of grazing area and reduced productivity of livestock. The weed in most parts of the Matabeleland South province has to date invaded approximately 7 000 ha of land.
The eradication is being done with the communities to curb the weed which is slowly spreading and threatening to cover the entire districts of Beitbridge and Gwanda and parts of Insiza and Bulilima.
- Baseline surveys: are currently been done in all provinces to gather information on the status of our natural resources.
Everyone can make a difference
The good news is that everyone can make a difference, from ordinary individuals and farmers to political leaders, businesses, scientists and media.
Through sustainable land management, dry and degraded land can become an asset. There are many ways to support sustainable land management through policy, innovation, changing agricultural practices and education and awareness raising.
As we approach the fire season please ensure that you have put in place standard fireguards of at least nine metres.
Please talk to us. We are always ready to listen. Email: [email protected]; Tel: 04 305543: Tollfree 08080028.
Online Reporter