LET’S PROTECT MUKULA TREES

Dear Editor,

There has been so much talk about mukula trees and trucks carrying mukula logs being impounded almost on a daily basis.

Going by the persistent scandals surrounding this tree, despite the Government banning exports of mukula logs, it is evident that this natural resource is very valuable internationally.

My concern is that since this tree is such an important resource, what we are doing as a country to safeguard it from being depleted as a result of illegal, excessive harvesting. Worse, there is no replanting going on. How are we going to protect this resource for future generations if unscrupulous people are allowed to continue harvesting the same illegally?

But as things stand, it appears we are not thinking about using and benefiting from the Mukula trees sustainably, all people are thinking about is harvesting the same carelessly just to make big money. This is all wrong!

I have heard of foreigners who have bought land from suspecting Zambians which is endowed with Mukula trees just to harvest the trees and have nothing to do with the land.

Fellow Zambians let’s change our attitude towards our natural resources by making sure that we use them properly or sustainably bearing in mind that we need to leave something for the future generations. This is what sustainable development entitles.

Let’s not allow money and greed to destroy our God given natural assets in our environment because this will backfires on us or indeed our children in the future.

I therefore appeal to the forestry department to ensure that Mukula trees and indeed other species are properly safeguarded. Already the levels of deforestation are worrisome which if not controlled could result in a desert in some places. The

The ever-increasing production of charcoal is a testimony to my concerns. Let there be some control. Bidon W. Zabwata Kabwe