admin
Walter Mswazie recently at Copota, Zimuto
Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has bemoaned the rate of deforestation in resettlement areas and fingered urban dwellers as the main culprits.
Speaking during pre-tree national planting day at M-Hugo School popularly known as Copota School for the Blind on Wednesday, Minister Ndlovu said some people were now using trees to earn a living.
This year’s theme is, “Fruit Trees for Food Security and Nutrition”
“It is disappointing to note the rate of deforestation in resettlement areas is alarming as these are now sources of firewood for urban dwellers,” said Minister Ndlovu.
“Communities are looking at indigenous wood as a business venture but this is not a sustainable solution to poverty reduction. As government, we have launched the Zimbabwe @40 tree planting campaign where traditional leaders in communities lead by example,” he said.
He hailed the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira for taking the lead in the tree planting campaign in his own constituency and beyond.
“The national assembly member for Masvingo West who is also Minister of State for provincial affairs Ezra Chadzamira was the first to lead by example here as he officiated at the tree planting at Chirichoga High School in Nemamwa on Monday,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu said some chiefs in Masvingo have already planted some trees and the target is that each traditional leader should mobilise people under his jurisdiction to plant at least 400 trees.
“Chief Musara real name Boniface Musara from Masvingo District planted a record 1 600 various tree species in Musanawengwe Village on November 26. Chief Nyajena planted 240, Chief Shumba (400) on December 2.
“The zim@40 tree planting campaign is to have each Chief, Senator or MP in Masvingo province select an area within their jurisdiction and plant trees in multiples of 40 within their communities.
“This is part of a build up to the National Tree Planting Day slated for Saturday, December,7,” he said.
He said the initiative will motivate Zimbabweans to value the importance of trees and forests.
“This initiative encourages all Zimbabweans to reflect on the significance of trees and forests as we consider the global warming challenges we are currently facing not only in Zimbabwe but the world over.
“Trees in the environment are air conditioners as they act as carbon sinks and help to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
“Trees and other plants have ecological functions of carbon sequestration that is significantly instrumental in climate change mitigation,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu also planted the tree of the year, called Granite gracinia, Mutunduru in Shona or Garcinia buchananii (botanical name).
Online Reporter