ZAMBIA LOSING OVER 200,000 HECTARES ANNUALLY
GOVERNMENT says the country is losing about 276, 021 hectares of land annually due to deforestation representing deforestation rate of 0.6 percent.
This came to light during the commemoration of this year’s International Forestry Day which was held under the theme ‘’Forests for sustainable cities, let’s make our cities greener, healthier, happier places to live’’
In a speech read for him by Solwezi District Administrative officer Christopher Nyungila, North Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Douglas Ngimbu, stated that the major drivers of deforestation in Zambia included commercial charcoal production, unsustainable timber production, unsustainable agriculture systems and industrialisation such as clearing of large tracks of forests for opening up mines and settlements.
Mr Ngimbu said in order to avert high deforestation rate, there was need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders in ensuring that indiscriminate cutting of trees was avoided.
‘’Instead let us encourage the culture of planting trees in order to establish community woodlots in our homesteads,’’ Mr Ngimbu said.
He said there was need to raise awareness on the importance of forests to the well-being of society and the environment.
The deputy permanent secretary further said forests store carbon which helps mitigate the impact of climate change in and around urban areas hence the need to protect them.Earlier, North-Western Province Principal Forestry Officer, Sarah Lunda, called on people in the region to unite and work together in helping realise this year’s theme.