Nyanga National Park under threat
THE wattle and pine trees are encroaching into Nyanga National Park’s natural grasslands and are threatening the habitats and food of endemic species, a Zimparks official has said.
The most affected species are the Eastern Highlands’ iconic bird - the blue swallow - which is now at risk of becoming extinct if nothing is done to help eradicate the invasive trees in the park.
Zimparks terrestrial ecologist, Ms Kundai Dube expressed concern at the provincial launch of Zimbabwe’s sixth national biodiversity report recently.
The event was hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality at a local hotel.
The blue swallow is an intra-African bird which has adapted Nyanga, Vumba and Chimanimani as its breeding ground.
About 25 percent of the bird’s population is found in Zimbabwe but the numbers have been declining over the years.
Unlike other birds whose nests are nestled in trees, the blue swallow’s nest is usually attached to the roof or a side of a hole on the ground.
Ms Dube said to help conserve the habitats and population of the blue swallow, $6 million is needed to fund the eradication of wattle and pine trees among other invasive species in the national park.
“The invasion has gone out of control and you may actually think that the wattle and pine trees are plantations. They are actually encroaching into our natural grasslands.
“The blue swallow and other insects have adapted to living in mountain grasslands, but now we have thickets of mono-specific species, which is a problem. Because of that, we now have less animals, birds and insects in the park.
“This is unfortunate because some tourists visit the country to see those birds. If nothing is urgently done, we may end up losing tourism revenue because of these invasive species.
“It is quite costly to eradicate the invasive species. We did an assessment and in Nyanga National Park only, $6 million is needed for the programme. We are currently looking at ways of monitoring and controlling the invasion,” she said.
Ms Dube said they are also involving the community in the eradication programmes.
“In trying to kill two birds with one stone, we are encouraging surrounding communities to harvest wattles and pines in Nyanga National Park for free as this will help us in conserving the grasslands. On a specific day of the week, we let them get firewood for free in the park. They harvest the invasive species only, not any other tree,” said Ms Dube.
She said they are also involving organisations that conduct tobacco curing in the eradication programmes.
“We have approached tobacco companies and we are encouraging them to use the invasive species rather than other species in curing tobacco,” she said.
Speaking to The Manica Post, Environmental Management Agency’s Nyanga District environmental officer, Mrs Odette Chipunza said while timber plantations are a good source of revenue for the province, they shouldn’t be allowed to threaten the lives of other species.
She said veld fires have also become a threat to national parks and protected areas as they cause displacement of animals, destruction of animal habitats and air pollution.