Source: Parly probes forests plunder – DailyNews Live
Andrew Kunambura 30 September 2017
HARARE – The parliamentary portfolio committee on Environment, Water and
Climate has set out to investigate the plunder of commercial timber and
protected indigenous forests following a massive public outcry from
environmentalists and the timber industry.
Settlers and illegal miners have besieged commercial timber forests in
Chimanimani and some gazetted natural forests such as Mapfungautsi in
Gokwe and Bembesi, Gwaai and Lake Alice in Matabeleland North.
Committee chairperson Wonder Mashange confirmed the development in an
interview this week.
“We are planning to make a field visit to those seriously damaged forests.
If there are big names involved in the settling of people and mining
activities there, we will name and shame them,” Mashange said.
“After the investigation, we will compile a report which will then be
tabled in Parliament for debate. We are particularly concerned with the
existing environment laws which we think are not deterrent enough. We want
government to establish special courts to try environment crimes.
“The world today is burdened by the effects of climate change and we
cannot be seen promoting decimation of these important forests which help
protect the environment,” he added.
Environmentalists have since welcomed the development saying it would go a
long way in mitigating against the whims of climate change.
“We are happy that Parliament is getting actively involved in this process
as they appreciate the disaster that is on the ground. Adding their voice
as politicians will probably make people realise that this is a serious
national issue that goes beyond political lines. It is about protecting
our environment for future generations,” said Environment Africa
communications officer Sandra Gobvu.
“I would be particularly glad to see results where people regardless of
their social standing are prosecuted for environmental crimes.
“We do appreciate the role that Ema has been doing especially around
policing the plunder of indigenous forests but we feel more can be done
especially in terms of law enforcement and prosecution,” she said.
At just 200 000 hectares, commercial timber forests occupy 0,5 percent of
Zimbabwe’s total land size of 39 million hectares.
The timber industry lost a total of 14 000 hectares of these forests in
the last two years alone, as they are being destroyed at a faster rate
than they can be replenished, and players in the besieged sector have
warned that the country could be forced to import timber if urgent
measures are not taken.
Zimbabwe has been able to satisfy local timber demand since 1986 and even
produce surplus timber for export to Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and
Mozambique.
Zambia, Malawi and Botswana sorely rely on Zimbabwe for timber.
Also, there could be grave climatic consequences because the timber
forests have helped combat effects of climate change through their carbon
sequestration abilities.
At its peak in the 1990s, the timber industry directly employed around 50
000 people, but now manages just 5 000.
Towns and cities such as Mutare, Chipinge, Nyanga and Chimanimani have
their foundations on the timber industry, on which their sustainability
also depends.
It is a multi-million dollar industry which, despite being in a quandary,
still contributes around four percent to the country’s Gross Domestic
Product.
Players say Zimbabwe had just enough timber to last the next nine years.
Apart from the commercial timber forests, Zimbabwe’s 14 gazetted natural
forests which are studded with rich tree species are also under siege.
About 836 478 hectares of land in Zimbabwe is under statutory protection,
inclusive of both commercial and natural forests.
The forests are under threat from human settlements, especially after
government’s forest-based land reform policy which saw an influx of
settlers invading the jungles despite statutory provisions barring such.
The Forestry Act Chapter 19:05 provides that demarcated indigenous forests
must ideally continue to be owned and managed by the State for
conservation purposes as provided for by the same law.
Sadly, the environmental bulwarks are vanishing due to unplanned
settlements.
In addition to decimating tree species, some of which, like teak and
mahogany, are of high commercial value, settlers are also poaching large
and small game.
As a result, wildlife which has been roaming freely in these protected
forests is diminishing due to habitat loss and excessive poaching.
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