The redemption of the endangered forestry resources

Dear Editor,

ZAMBIA is endowed with the forestry resources but it remains unexploited for the positive good of the public as it is subject to wasteful activities, especially deforestation.

From historical times, Zambia has not exploited the prospects of diversification of the utilisation of the forestry resources save for charcoal burning and other unconventional farming methods among them shifting cultivation otherwise known as the Chitemene system.

The consumption of the forestry resources through charcoal and firewood has made Zambia’s forestry resources not to be utilised and explored the diversification of the forestry products.

The Patriotic Front manifesto (2021-26) on Chapter 12 has undertaken for the prudent utilisation of the forestry resources for the stimulation of other activities of the economy. To mitigate the ongoing diminishing of the forestry products, the Patriotic Front government has undertaken the following remedial measures:

- So far 11, 000, 000 seedlings have been planted per year using a multiple stakeholder from both the public and private sector who have been integrated.

- Introduction of the plantation of special bamboo for charcoal production. This will substitute the ongoing explanation of the forest resources.

- Restriction of the forestry licencee only to Zambians.

- Banned the importation of forestry logs to allow for plantation and multiplication of the forestry products.

- Banned the importation of furniture in educational institutions.

After 2021, the PF government will hit the ground running and proactively implement the following measures that will mechanise the utilisation of the forestry resources with the view to promote the industrialisation agenda.

The PF government will introduce the multisectoral approach in the conservation of wildlife resources. This will create jobs.

The government will bring in policies to continue multiplying the wildlife population through the continued plantation of at least one million trees per year. More efforts will be put in place to empower community with land and introduce tax incentives on forestry resources as regards the forestry population, measures will be taken to expand ZAFFICO plantations countrywide especially in desert threatened areas.

To deal with the long age deforestation problem, Government will find alternative sources of energy such as bamboo charcoal and gas to reduce on deforestation

As regards, the forestry sector, it is beyond reproach that the future is green and the green economy will increase the economic prospects of Zambia.