adminFrom Stephen Ephraem in Checheche
“SOME men go through a forest and see no wood,” goes an English adage. A straight interpretation to the above phrase might be that some people may be given an opportunity but fail to take advantage of the prospect. The other version might be that some people view things as there are in life, and don’t rush to think of profit only. It’s the second description that is of much interest. It talks of people who view, admire and are not concerned about destroying nature. They are the kind of people who share resources and preserve them for the future generations.
The first interpretation is worrisome. It talks of people who when they see an elephant, they think of ivory. A scrub hare to them is meat and soup. A forest is wood, charcoal and furniture.
Since action speaks louder than words, what we do to our forest resources speaks more of how we view natural resources.
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported that globally around 13 million ha of forests were converted to other uses. On the other hand, Zimbabwe is in the process of formulating a National Forest Policy which is expected to be complete by June 2016. One of the objectives of the policy is to address the low value attached to forest resources. What does this tell us about how we are valuing our forests?
The term forest becomes valueless if people think of trees alone. In fact, a forest is more than trees. There is the soil, vegetation, animals, creatures (above and underground) and gases to think of. These should be considered regardless of the forest being natural or a plantation.
Forests constitute over 4 billion hectares which is 30 percent of the world’s land and 9.4 percent of the earth. According to FAO, Zimbabwe has 15.6 million hectares which is 40.4 percent under forests. Of the total, 108 000 hectatres are planted forests. Between 1990 and 2010, the country lost around 6.54 million hectares which is 29.5 percent of forests. This publication revealed last week that Manicaland province has gutted 67 909 hectares of forests this year only. Where are we really going wrong?
Failure to value forests has a negative impact on us. Our physical health which is influenced by our environment, the food we eat and the medicine we take when we fall sick hinges on how we treat forests. How?
Environmental health
Every person requires oxygen in order to live. Each person generates an approximate 2.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. With the earth’s 6 billion people, it means we release 13 800 000 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year. The forests we are diminishing are responsible for cleaning the atmosphere for us. A tree absorbs carbon dioxide through a process called photosynthesis which converts carbon dioxide to carbon (stored as plant tissue) and oxygen that we breathe in. A tree can absorb as much as 22kg of carbon dioxide per year. Therefore a large tree can supply oxygen for two people a day. Can we see the value of forest now?
The atmosphere should be free of excess carbons. Unnecessary carbons contribute to global warming known as the green house effect. When most people thought that the green house issue which caused climatic change is just a theory, they were caught in the web. During the past weeks, temperatures in Zimbabwe soared to the extent of reaching 45 degrees Celsius in lowveld areas of Zambezi valley and Save-Limpopo valley. Some parts of Manicaland reached above 33 degrees Celsius. The heat wave gave a torrid moment even to those were don’t revere the existence of forest. Did we see the consequences of gutting forests like what the province did to the 67 909ha? Did it end there or another disaster is looming?
Food security
Farmers are crying year in and year out about erratic rains. Good rains cannot be acquired if we mismanage forests. Woodlots are at the centre of rainfall cycle. Trees help in the formation of rainfall through a process called evapo-transpiration which is a movement of water through a plant from roots to the leaves. The process requires sufficient underground water.
It’s the forest that regulates water to penetrate into the ground and boost the underground water needed for evapo-transpiration. Amble underground water is also vital for later extraction like domestic or commercial use. Run-off if not controlled causes floods and soil erosion. Floods destroy crops and fields as well. In the end our food supply decreases. Do we see the value of forests?
Medication
Forests reduce ground level ozone and other pollutants. Ailments like asthma and pulmonary problems are worsened by pollutants. Clinically prescribed anti-asthma theophylline drugs and two-thirds of anti-cancer taxol drugs come from the forest. Both traditional healers and pharmaceutical companies acquire treatment from for malaria, stomach ulcers, sexual related infections and other disorders from the forests. Worldwide, commercial medicine is valued at over $20 billion per year. Do we the value of forests?
Everyone wants to enjoy life. Good life comes with proper management of forests.
Should not we start taking steps to prevent forests from being threatened? What are the main threats of forests? The answer shall be discussed in the forthcoming article.
Online Reporter