"VAN" (Shingirai Vambe - Harare, Zimbabwe) :: A sustainable approach to deforestation and forest degradation is required to address the drivers of climate change of which all agricultural sectors have been named as the highest contributors.
All agricultural sectors are said to be drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, and a sustainable approach to this effect is required to address drivers of climate change.
Speaking during a validation workshop which kicked off today in Harare, read on his behalf, Washington Zhakata said the project which his department (Climate Change Department) under the ministry of Lands, Agriculture, water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, is a collaborative effort by the Government of Zimbabwe, United Nations Development Program and the Government of Russia.
"This engagement has the objective of dealing with climate change issues, defination, wile working on the reduction of emissions on deforestation, forest and land degradation (REDD+) with the help of measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) framework" Dr Lizzie Mujuru, Lecturer at Bindura State University said.
“Zimbabwe has a high deforestation rate estimated at an accurate figure of 909 200.5ha of forest area between year 2000 and 2005 amounting to about 53 482.38ha per annum”, this was said by Tatenda Gotore, pointing out to the use of Morden cameras and Google engine which has and or close to accuracy in terms of the actual affected areas.
Gotore said the 330 000ha per annum currently being used, there are no details of how it was measured considering the time frame after it was gazetted between 1987 and 1992, with all officers from relevant offices such the forest commission agreeing with the current figures based on new morden technological views.
None the less Isaiah Nyakusendwa from Renewable Energy Association of Zimbabwe (REAZ) requested that government should invest on priorities especially at such a moment when people have resorted into cutting down of trees for domestic use, processing charcoal, tobacco curing and brick moulding in urban areas.
“I think government should look into these drivers and prioritise on subsidising such things like L.P gas or introduce efficient cooking stoves while putting in place policies that will save both the affected land and forest”
“Government has removed duty on the solar panels yes, but the rest of the material is being charged duty, and as a government these are the things they should be looking at, since we now have home based solar gadgets which are also being charged duty” he added.
However after all is said and done the program to clean energy, data, policies and partnerships requires funding for resource mobilization, workshops and training within our communities on the drivers and effects thereof.
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