Zim Loses 400 000ha of Forest to Illegal Fellers
Source: Herald
Date:30 August 2007
Author: Brailine Muzunze And Jacob Mujokoro
Zimbabwe is losing between 300 000 and 400 000 hectares of forest annually due to illegal tree felling in peri-urban and farming areas, highlighting the need for intensified environmental conservation campaigns. Intermittent power outages, increasing population and general lack of monitoring have resulted in a 100 percent increase in deforestation from between 150 000 hectares and 200 000 hectares two years ago, a situation that has also been blamed on general lack of effective monitoring.
To combat this wanton destruction, the Forestry Company of Zimbabwe has embarked on a nationwide blitz that has led to the arrest of many firewood vendors and the confiscation of tonnes of firewood. In an interview yesterday, FCZ acting operations manager Mr Abednigo Marufu said as the vanguard of Zimbabwe's array of natural forests, his company was disturbed by the rate of deforestation. "We are losing our forests at an appalling rate. In the past we were losing about 150 000 hectares annually but from the time the country started experiencing erratic power supplies, deforestation has been happening at an alarming level.
"Apparently, since the introduction of the current load-shedding programme, more trees are being felled. People are going into the rural areas, protected areas and those pieces of land that are still to be allocated under the land redistribution exercise. "The wood is usually destined for resale in Harare and other urban areas," Mr Marufu said. Although clearing forests for farming purposes is legal, some individuals were taking advantage of this to cash in on increasing demand for firewood.
Mr Marufu said the FCZ, in conjunction with the City of Harare, had begun licensing firewood vendors to minimise illegal firewood vending. "Forestry Company understands the increasing demand for energy in urban areas, but we feel there should be control of sourcing. "Only authorised vendors would be allowed to operate in the city and already we have licensed three firewood vendors in Glen Norah and Mbare. "This will allow us to monitor the origin of the wood that is on sale in the country," he said.
Power outages, afflicting the entire Southern Africa region, have affected various sectors of the economy amid increasing calls for Zimbabwe to come up with alternative forms of energy. Mr Marufu urged farmers, especially those in resettled areas, to increase the planting of fast-growing trees like eucalyptus, mango and pine that can be used for firewood.
The FCZ is planning a meeting with stakeholders to find ways of minimising the negative effects of the current power shortages. It is also monitoring the movement of timber in the country to curb illegal harvesting of natural resources and established woodlots and would also intensify tree-planting programmes. Recently the company engaged the police and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to curb the illegal export of unprocessed or raw forestry products.