Charcoal burners ravage forests

By VIOLET TEMBO

THE Lamba –Lima Royal Council (LLRC) has urged Government to be aggressive in curbing deforestation in the Lamba chiefdoms.

In a walk-in interview in Ndola, LLRC chairperson Joseph Nsundwe said there was indiscriminate cutting down of trees by charcoal burners in the chiefdoms.

Mr. Nsundwe said for Zambia to reduce deforestation, there was need for conceited efforts by both the public and private sectors. He appealed to government to formulate a policy that would include chiefs in efforts to promote and encourage natural environment protection.

“Most forests in Lamba land on the Copperbelt- covering Lufwanyama, Mpongwe, and Masaiti districts have been depleted because many subjects are engaged in charcoal burning to make ends meet. “The council’s appeal to the government is that, can it engage local chiefs and brainstorm on how best deforestation can be managed? Ignoring issues on the ground will not help this country because climate change will not spare any part of this country. There is need to bring on board all interest groups from both private and public sectors to spearhead reduction of deforestation,” Mr. Nsundwe said. He said government must consider training and empowering charcoal burners in alternative and sustainable businesses like bee keeping to keep them away from indiscriminate cutting down of trees. Mr. Nsundwe said this would create employment opportunities and encourage environmental protection.

He called on the government to do more sensitization on alternative sources of energy to reduce deforestation.

He appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to undertake an ambitious reforestation project to mitigate losses recorded in the province.