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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
CLIMATE change is a major challenge against the achievement of a green economy and Government is adapting zero tolerance on deforestation as a way of putting in place the necessary pillars for environmentally friendly targets, a Cabinet Minister, has said.
A green economy is one which ensures sustainable development without degrading the environment and also minimises adverse impacts on society, while fostering economic growth.
In his keynote address during the Zimbabwe College of Forestry and the Forest Industries Training Centre joint graduation ceremony recently, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu called upon all stakeholders to join hands in promoting a green economy.
“Notable effects of our degraded environment are depleted resources, including minerals, flora and fauna, formation of gullies due to uncontrolled levels of soil erosion, high levels of siltation in rivers and major dams as well as low water tables.
“Despite these, we have constantly continued to use unsustainable practices. I call upon other stakeholders to join hands with forestry colleges in their efforts to promote a green economy. Climate change is another threat to a green economy.
“If we continue to destroy our forests, we lose the benefits from them. We need to bring down to zero the deforestation rate. By protecting our forests we are also complementing the National Development Strategy which will see us realising Vision 2030.”
Minister Ndlovu said more than 260 000 hectares of forests are lost annually in Zimbabwe owing to deforestation.
“More than 260 000ha of forests are lost annually in Zimbabwe. This rate of destruction has to be arrested as a matter of urgency as it poses a serious threat to the global environmental health and to the well being of communities who are dependent on forests.
“Main causes of this deforestation include logging, fuel harvesting, unsustainable agricultural activities, mining, urbanisation, timber production and forest fires,” he said.
In his speech during the Virtual Climate Ambition Summit held in December to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement which advocates for increased efforts in fighting climate change, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe has set a target to go green by 2030.
A total of 35 students graduated with certificates and diplomas in forestry and wood technology at the ceremony.
Online Reporter