Gold panners threaten Tarka Estate
RAMPANT illegal gold panning at Tarka Estate in Chimanimani has reduced the life span of the forestry sector in the country to just nine years.
The panners have caused irreparable environmental damage to the environment where deep gullies are now a common sight.
All water bodies in the area are heavily polluted, while some Pine trees nearing maturity are being wantonly cut down.
Some of the panners have illegally settled in the timber plantation.
After a tour of Tarka Estate , Forestry Commission spokesperson, Ms Violet Makoto, said according to research, if the issue of land degradation in the forestry plantations was not addressed and controlled by the responsible authorities, the forestry industry’s lifespan would be reduced to just nine years.
Said Ms Makoto: “If these issues are not addressed, research shows that we are only left with nine years to harvest and sell what we already have in our plantations. Thereafter, the forestry plantation business will be extinct in the country and we will be depending on imported timber which will be expensive for us as well.”
She said the panners were very hostile and also claim ownership of the land, yet only 200 hectares of the estate was demarcated and gazetted as forestry area in 1949. The land is protected by the Forestry Act.
“These issues have to be addressed as a matter of urgency so that we retain those 200 hectares since that is the only land in the country suitable for forestry plantations because of the climatic conditions and altitudes in those areas.
“We cannot sacrifice a country’s economy just because a few individuals want to benefit. The forestry sector is one of the biggest employers in the country and many people stand to benefit.
“There are a lot of benefits derived from the forestry sector. If the industry is left to die, the country’s Gross Domestic Product will also be affected,” she said.
Ms Makoto called on all the powers that be to intervene and preserve the 200 hectares that are viable for the forestry sector.
She also called on the political leadership in the province to assist in bringing the illegal settlers and gold panners to book.