adminRichard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
DEFORESTATION has had a significant negative impact on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, leading to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to desertification.
The clearing of forests for agricultural expansion, logging and firewood extraction has contributed to soil erosion, reduced water availability and disrupted local ecosystems.
This has resulted in adverse effects on agriculture, water resources and overall environmental sustainability in the region.
To counter the adverse effects of deforestation, SADC needs to take a concerted effort to embark on massive afforestation.
Afforestation can help restore degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and improve the resilience of local communities to environmental challenges.
By planting trees and restoring natural habitats, SADC states can work towards reversing the negative impacts of deforestation and promoting sustainable land use practices.
The issue of deforestation is expected to take centre-stage at the incoming 44th Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled for August in Harare, Zimbabwe.
In 2023, more than 22 million trees were planted countrywide under an initiative aimed at combating deforestation and mitigating the effects of climate change.
The Forestry Commission, which is spearheading the nationwide tree planting campaign, had set a target of 25 million trees for the year.
Forestry Commission spokesperson, Ms Violet Makoto said: “For the 2022/2023 season, we set a target of planting 25 million trees and we also want this to be the target for the coming season of 2023/24.
“This season, we did not quite manage to reach 25 million, but we are at 22,8 million trees planted.”
She said following the declaration of 2020 to 2030 as the decade for ecosystem restoration by the United Nations, the Commission has been working towards the revival of barren areas.
Recently on the sidelines of the Cope28 conference on Climate Change in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Southern African countries committed to preserve the Miombo Forest, a vast African dryland forest system stretching across a number of Central and Southern African countries.
Miombo Forest is a biome characterised by a pre-dominance of species on the Zambezi basin and in Southern Africa it covers 190 million hectares.
The basin is under pressure due to illegal and unsustainable exploitation of forests, minerals, fishing and agriculture.
Countries met for the Regional Conference on Sustainable and Integrated Management of Miombo Forest in Maputo, Mozambique in August last year where the Maputo Declaration was adopted to mainstream conservation and sustainable use of Miombo forest ecosystem to mitigate climate change. The countries that adopted the declaration tasked Mozambique to lead the promotion and fundraising for the initiative and coordinate actions at global level.
The commitment made in the Maputo Declaration extends beyond just protecting and restoring the Miombo forest.
The Maputo Declaration encourages collaboration between governments, local communities and international organisations to develop and implement effective conservation strategies through education and awareness programmes and providing alternative livelihood options to reduce dependence on forest resources.
Speaking to the media at the end of the first International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation held from July 2-5 in Congo Brazzaville, Vice President Kembo Mohadi who was representing Zimbabwe urged African countries to forge a united front in the fight against the devastating effects of climate change, which have been marked by increased frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and floods.
He said humanity was facing an “existential threat”, which requires cooperation to tackle it.
“As African leaders, we are committed to fighting climate change. Climate change is affecting mainly the developing countries, so this initiative that has come from the African states to fight climate change through afforestation and reforestation is a noble initiative, which we must all embrace,” he said.
In his presentation for Heads of State and Government, VP Mohadi said the conference had come at a time when mankind was bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change.
He said countries in Southern Africa and South Asia have been increasingly affected by cyclones, heatwaves and floods due to climate change.
“My country, Zimbabwe, has declared a State of Disaster as it is not being spared from this weather phenomenon in the world.
“As I speak right now, the whole region of Southern Africa is facing a severe drought due to the El Niño weather occurrences,” he said.
“It is tragic that although countries in the southern region are accounting for a negligible contribution to global warming, they are most impacted by this change in weather patterns.
“We, therefore, call upon the developed world to live up to their commitments to give financial support to developing countries to meet their climate obligations.”
VP Mohadi said Zimbabwe had instituted an afforestation levy dedicated to tree planting.
He said the Government of Zimbabwe had also designated the first Saturday of every December as the National Tree Planting Day, during which the nation is mobilised to plant more trees, particularly indigenous ones.
In his address, while officially opening the conference a fortnight ago, Congo-Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso said forests were important, not just for timber, but also for the survival of mankind.
He said forests helped prevent soil erosion, landslides and floods, while also providing society with medicine and being sources of food for animals and humans.
Two-thirds of Congo-Brazzaville is covered by forests, which are well-preserved. Since 1986, Congo-Brazzaville has been observing November 6 as National Tree Planting Day and a national holiday on which all the country’s citizens are called upon to plant at least one tree.
In February last year, Congo-Brazzaville proposed the launch of an African and World Decade on Afforestation during the African Union Summit as a response to accelerating climate change. President Sassou Nguesso said there was a need to carry that plan to the United Nations General Assembly this year.
Developed countries have indicated their desire to release about US$100 billion to developing countries for climate adaptation and mitigation, but the money has not been issued out.
To address the issue of deforestation, especially for charcoal production, firewood, and curing of tobacco, heads of State attending the Sadc Summit in August should consider encouraging sustainable charcoal production methods, such as using efficient kilns and promoting alternative energy sources, and can help reduce the reliance on traditional charcoal production methods that contribute to deforestation
There is also need for member states to strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms to control illegal logging and unsustainable harvesting of forest resources to protect critical forest ecosystems.
Online Reporter