Zim on the brink of desertification

hectares of land per year.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday ahead of the national tree planting day tomorrow, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Francis Nhema singled out tobacco farmers as the “chief culprits”.
This year’s main commemorations will be held in Mutare where President Mugabe is expected to officiate.
“The bulk users of wood like the flue cured tobacco farmers are encouraged to start paying heed to the message of afforestation,” said Minister Nhema.
The ministry, he said, was finalising a statutory instrument requiring such farmers to establish their own sources of energy for tobacco curing to prevent over-reliance on indigenous trees.
“We seriously need to embark on a massive tree planting exercise to replace those trees that we cut to cure our tobacco,” he said.
Minister Nhema said wood energy was the source for over 2 billion people worldwide and about 90 percent of people in Zimbabwe.
“The figures emphasise the importance of looking after our forest resources everywhere in the country so that we protect ourselves from the negative effects of climate change,” he said.
Minister Nhema said the country’s dry provinces were encouraged to double or triple their efforts this season compared to last year.
“Last year the country planted five million trees with Matabeleland South having the least due to harshness of weather in that region.
“We request our traditional leaders as usual to be in the forefront of this campaign so that their people may plant more,” he said.
Minister Nhema said 10 million trees will be planted by the end of the rain season running under the theme “Forest for People join us in planting 10 million trees this year.
A local company, Seed Trust Zimbabwe, donated one thousand trees to the ministry with 20 trees given to journalists marking the National Tree Planting Day, which is commemorated, in the first week of December.