admin
Walter Nyamukondiwa
Kariba Bureau
GOVERNMENT is fine-tuning a raft of measures to protect the environment and natural resources, which form the bedrock of the country’s socio-economic transformation through review of current legislation and formulating new policies.
This follows unprecedented pressure on the country’s ecosystem arising from urbanisation, mining, unsustainable use of natural resources, industrial production and changes in land use.
Climate change has also emerged as a major threat to the country’s development, which is anchored on industries such as tourism expected to contribute about $5 billion by 2025 towards the national drive for middle-income economic status by 2030.
To that end, Government has secured a US$37 million war chest to mitigate against the effects of climate change and come up with adaptation measures in communities.
Under review or formulation is the Wildlife Act following increased cases of human wildlife conflict, among other emerging challenges, the Forestry Act and accompanying policy and the National Adaptation Plan against climate change.
Cabinet has also approved the review of the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) aimed at conserving biodiversity and empowering communities living adjacent to protected areas.
Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said measures should be put in place to protect the environment and subsequently offshoot industries such as tourism.
He was speaking at the ministry’s 2021 Strategic Planning Workshop in Kariba last week.
At least 80 percent of the tourism industry relies on natural resources.
“The environment, however, faces unprecedented pressure from sectors of the economy and society through urbanisation, mining, unsustainable use of natural resources, industrial production and land use change,” said Minister Ndlovu.
“Such pressure threatens ecosystem integrity, sustainability of ecosystem services and the ability of the environment to recover.”
Government, he said, had demonstrated commitment to protecting biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem integrity by banning mining of alluvial gold and mining in protected areas.
Minister Ndlovu expressed concern at the increasing cases of human and wildlife conflict, before calling for urgent review policies governing wildlife management.
“We, therefore, need to urgently develop policies to ensure that such conflicts are effectively managed,” he said.
“The Parks and Wildlife Management Act is also under review to ensure that management of wildlife is strengthened, and the country unlocks value in wildlife resources which we pride ourselves as one of the leaders in the management of, worldwide.”
Minister Ndlovu encouraged stakeholders to participate in the review process to ensure sound wildlife legislation before calling for decisive action on illegal settlements to protect forests.
To that end, Government is developing the Forest Policy and reviewing the Forest Act and the Communal Lands and Forest Produce Act.
On climate change, Minister Ndlovu said increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather patterns, including dry spells, droughts and flooding, among others, needed urgent intervention.
“Efforts on education and awareness on climate change and the broad environmental issues will need to be prioritised to ensure increased understanding and participation of Zimbabweans in sustainable environment and climate change management,” he said.
Work on the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Government has secured a US$27 million grant to build resilience of smallholder irrigation schemes in Southern Zimbabwe and another US$6 million Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 project in Mashonaland Central Province.
Wetlands, which are one of the key buffers against climate change and make up four percent of the country’s land area are under threat, as about 40 percent of the wetlands are degraded and there are plans to stop further deterioration.
Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests globally, with the country now developing Wetlands Management Guidelines with plans for a National Wetlands Policy.
Online Reporter