Read at : Google Alert – desertification
Stop the wanton destruction of trees
Imagine travelling past grassy stretches of bare land, with no trees in sight, save for a eucalyptus tree here and there! As near impossible as it might sound to some, it is the sad reality in most parts of Zimbabwe, a country currently in grave danger of serious desertification.
The country has over the past few years experienced major tree depletion, which many have blamed on the advent of the “new farmers” following the fast-track land reform programme that saw a new breed of farmers occupying farming areas previously predominantly owned by white commercial farmers.
Most of the farmers, especially the A1 type, are reportedly rampantly cutting down trees. Some have abandoned farming activities and are surviving solely on cutting down trees and selling as firewood to people who have for long been plagued with continuous power black outs!
Veldfires, which have become so common in farming areas, have also done their fair share of harm to the trees. The Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe (FCZ) blames mostly tobacco farmers for the serious depletion of trees in the country as the bulk of them have for a long time been cutting down trees to use in curing their crop before taking it to the auction floors, as most of them cannot access coal.
Unfortunately, in spite of clearing their surrounds of trees, most of which would be indigenous trees that take an average of 20 to 25 years to fully develop and are facing extinction, most farmers are doing very little to ensure sustainability.
In a desperate attempt to end the destructive behaviour, the FCZ has embarked on an aggressive campaign to educate communities on the absolute need to stop the destruction of trees.
