adminLifestyle Correspondent
Zimbabwe’s forest and woodland resources cover 53 percent of the country’s total land area.
They are found on various land use systems that include communal areas, resettled land, private land, gazetted forests and national parks.
The forests consist of Afromontane forests, Miombo, Mopane, Acacia, Baikiaea (Zambezi teak), combretum terminalia woodlands and exotic timber plantations.
The main state actor in the sustainable management of these forests in Zimbabwe is the Forestry Commission which was established through an Act of Parliament, the Forest Act (Chapter 19:05) in 1954. This Act, together with the Communal Land Forest Produce Act (Chapter 19:04) guide forest management and conservation in Zimbabwe.
The Forestry Commission’s core mandate is to sustainably manage the country’s forest resources through four key activities: regulation of the forestry sector; conservation of all forest resources; carrying out forestry extension; and forest research and training.
Regulations are aimed at ensuring conservation and sustainable utilisation of forest resources. Forest extension and awareness raising activities are aimed at educating and empowering communities on forest management issues.
Forest conservation and protection are aimed at reducing incidences that are harmful to forests such as fires, poaching and other illegal activities (especially in gazetted indigenous forests).
Forest Research undertakes cost-effective, clientele-driven research for the forestry sector in Zimbabwe while Forest Training provides skilled personnel for the national and Sadc forestry sector.
Zimbabwe’s forests have many environmental, economic, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic functions and values that should be maintained for their intrinsic worth and for the contributions they make to human welfare. Community livelihoods are shaped by the availability of forest resources in many parts of Zimbabwe.
The forest stocks generate a wide range of both timber and non-timber products and services.
Fuel wood accounts for over 60 percent of the total energy supply in Zimbabwe and because nearly 96 percent of the rural communities rely on fuel wood for cooking and heating, this means that forests provide the bulk of energy needs for these communities and recently for urban populations as well.
Forests provide vital ecosystem services such as combating desertification, protecting and maintaining watersheds and biodiversity; regulating local climate and enhancing carbon sequestration.
Other services provided include soil stabilisation; erosion control; wind breaks; shade as well as natural hazard and disease regulation. Even if most of these forest values are not captured in the national accounting system in Zimbabwe, these are forest values everyone should be aware of.
Zimbabwe is part of the global community and has a role in mitigating the effects of climate change. The deforestation rate in the country stands at an alarming 330 000 hectares per annum which needs to be reversed.
Conservation of forests and enhancement of forest cover through tree planting are the primary activities to achieve this and this is something everyone can participate in.
As we move closer to the 2018-2019 tree planting season, let us all remember to play our part and Plant A Tree.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter