adminFungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
The Forestry Commission has planted 6 600 trees in Bindura District against a target of 12 800 that it plans to achieve before Independence Day next month.
Officiating at the tree-planting day at Avoca Primary School on Tuesday dubbed Zim@40 Tree Planting Programme, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Senator Monica Mavhunga said planting trees was every citizen’s responsibility.
In a speech read on her behalf by director in her office Mr Admore Shereni, Sen Mavhunga discouraged the burning of vegetation, especially young trees.
“This day reminds everyone to plant and conserve trees and forests for the benefit of present and future generations,” she said.
“We need to protect our forests from veld fires, indiscriminate cutting down of trees, unplanned settlements and other forms of forest depletion.”
Sen Mavhunga said there was need for more emphasis on tree-planting since the rate of deforestation was surpassing that of trees being planted.
She said statistics showed that about 40 113 hectares of forests were lost throughout the province annually against a tree planting rate of 3 000 hectares.
Some of the drivers of deforestation in the province are land clearing for agriculture purposes, unplanned settlements and mining operations and firewood collection for domestic and industrial use due to load-shedding.
District forestry district extension officer Mr Peter Mukonya urged everyone in the province to plant at least 40 trees to enable the province to meet its target.
“We want to re-green our province,” he said. “Effects of climate change are felt today, for example the El Nino-induced drought.
“We cannot watch as our province turns into a dessert. We can do something to correct the situation. It is everyone’s responsibility to plant trees. We are collaborating with chiefs and MP in the tree planting programme.”
Online Reporter