Protect our trees to protect the future: President

Kuda Bwititi in MANHIZE

ZIMBABWE is losing over 262 000 hectares of forests annually due to deforestation, a situation that poses severe threats to the environment and livelihoods, and action must be taken now to reverse the trend, in line with the country’s commitment to a greener future, President Mnangagwa has said.

Speaking at the Dinson Iron and Steel Company plant in Manhize during the National Tree Planting Day commemorations yesterday, the President, in a speech read on his behalf by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, underscored the urgent need to protect the nation’s forests to ensure a greener and sustainable future.

The National Tree Planting Day is commemorated every first Saturday of December.

President Mnangagwa said tree planting was a unifying act that transcends differences in culture, creed and background.

“On this day, we stand together as Zimbabweans, united by our commitment to sustainability,” said President Mnangagwa.

“With every tree we plant and nurture today and into the entire season, we are giving a promise of harmony and resilience, reflecting our collective will to protect our environment.”

Trees, he said, are not just beautiful adornments of our landscape but essential components of ecosystems that provide clean air, water and healthy habitats for a diverse range of plant and animal species.

“They help to regulate our climate, capture carbon dioxide and reduce the impacts of natural disasters, such as floods and droughts,” he said.

The President also said, with the country’s forests under threat, the time to act was now.

“Deforestation, illegal logging and unsustainable land use practices are putting immense pressure on our natural resources and endangering the health of our ecosystems,” he added. 

“This has serious implications for our biodiversity, our water resources and our climate. 

“If we do not take action now to protect and restore our forests, we risk irreversible damage to our environment and our livelihoods.”

Tree planting, the President said, is helping Zimbabwe to create a greener and sustainable future.

“Through tree planting, we are not only helping to restore our ecosystems, but also investing in a sustainable future for our country. 

“Trees provide a wide range of benefits to our communities, from improving air quality and reducing pollution, to providing shade and cooling in urban areas, to supporting local livelihoods through sustainable forestry and agroforestry practices. 

“By planting trees today, we are planting the seeds of a brighter, greener and more prosperous future for Zimbabwe.”

He bemoaned deforestation, saying the progressive loss and degradation of forests had exacerbated climate change.

“We can never over-emphasise the importance of tree planting as one of the primary responses to this loss of our trees and depletion of our forests that the country and the world at large are currently facing. 

“At a global level, between 2015 and 2020, 10 million hectares of forests were lost through conversion of forests to other land uses every year, while, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, nearly four million hectares of African forests are being lost each year.

“This is almost double the speed of the world’s deforestation average. 

“Zimbabwe is not spared in this trend, and we are experiencing a loss of approximately 262  000 hectares of forest annually due to various factors that are driving deforestation.

“This negative trend is occurring at a time we need to be working more towards maintaining our forests’ integrity to enable them to play various ecological functions. 

“The global challenge of climate change is upon us and forests emerge as a major contributor in mitigation and adaptation strategies against the adverse impacts of the climate change phenomenon.”

The President outlined various interventions that the Government has made to protect forests.

He said this year, the country launched the National Forest Policy, which fulfils the Government’s mandate to recognise the forestry sector as an important component of Zimbabwe’s economy that needs to be well-co-ordinated.

The policy, he said, also emphasises the need to put in place strategies to continually revitalise, manage, conserve and sustainably utilise forest resources to enhance the capacity of the forestry sector to contribute to development.

Zimbabwe, he added, is also a signatory to the Maputo Declaration on Sustainable and Integrated Management of Miombo Woodlands.

This binds the country to commitments to enforce the sustainable management principles and practices in production forests by 2032.

“As a country, we are a key player in the global discourse on Miombo forest conservation and we have actively participated in several high-level meetings, demonstrating our commitment to the sustainable management of this vital ecosystem,” said the President.

Yesterday’s event also coincided with the launch of the Presidential Legacy Forests, a programme focused on identifying and designating forests in all districts, which will be co-managed and protected with communities to preserve their unique ecological, economic, cultural and historical significance.

Added the President: “As President of this country, I am committed to these forest conservation efforts, results of which will serve as a living legacy of our commitment to conservation and sustainability. I also urge the traditional leadership and all Zimbabweans to join me in this effort because together, we can make a difference. Let us work hand-in-hand to build a greener, healthier Zimbabwe for ourselves and for future generations.”

The National Tree Planting Day was commemorated under the theme “Trees and Forests for Ecosystem Restoration and Improved Livelihoods”.

The Tree of the Year for 2024 is the quinine tree, known as mukashu in Shona and umhlambamanzi in Ndebele. 

It is indigenous to Zimbabwe and other countries in Southern Africa and has many ecological and social uses that have sustained local communities for generations.

The event was attended by Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa (Junior), who was representing the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa; Cabinet Ministers; as well as senior Government and Zanu-PF officials.

Acting Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Tatenda Mavetera said Zimbabwe has an ambitious plan to plant 25 million trees between 2024 and 2025.