Zim destroys 400 000ha forest

[sabadgeman]

Zim destroys 400 000ha forestHarare - Zimbabwe, which was in the grip of worsening power shortages, was destroying up to 400 000 hectares of forest each year, said reports on Thursday.

The electricity cuts and a lack of tight surveillance by the authorities had seen tree-felling increase by up to 100% in the last two years, reported the state-controlled Herald newspaper.

Zimbabwe was suffering from chronic power shortages, with suburbs in most towns and cities going for up to 15 hours a day without electricity.

According to the Herald, two years ago the country was losing between 150 000 and 200 000 hectares of woodland each year, but the figure had since doubled.

Abednigo Marufu of the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe said: "We are losing our forests at an appalling rate."

Deforestation 'worsens'

Marufu said: "People are going into the rural areas, protected areas and those pieces of land that are still to be allocated under the land redistribution exercise."

He said the deforestation had worsened since extended power cuts were introduced earlier this year to save energy. Many city dwellers now have to cook on open fires, and firewood sales were brisk.

In May, Zimbabwe was controversially elected to the chair of the UN's Commission on Sustainable Development.

The move came despite the increase in poaching and environmental destruction since President Robert Mugabe's government began seizing white-owned land seven years ago for redistribution to new black farmers.

An editorial in the Herald on Thursday said Zimbabwe's power shortages should be declared a national disaster.

This week, Three fertilizer firms were reported to have closed down due to power shortages, threatening future crop yields in the country, which was already facing massive shortfalls of food.

Experts had also predicted that this year's wheat harvest was likely to be the worst in seven years due to erratic power supplies that disrupted irrigation and damaged pumps.

Sapa-dpa
SAPA


24.com - News top story Zim destroys 400 000ha forest Zim destroys 400 000ha forest

[Woodmonkey]

No country which has shown an appaling lack of ability in a certain area, should be even be on that commission, especially as chair.

Originally Posted by sabadgeman

In May, Zimbabwe was controversially elected to the chair of the UN's Commission on Sustainable Development.

That made a lot of sense. Wasn't Libya appointed to the chair of the Human Rights Commission?

I'm waiting for Saudi Arabia to be appointed to the chair of the Women's Rights Commission,

[sabadgeman]

What really angers me is the fact that many people in America Europe and the Commonwealth have this quaint view that giving a country "independence" and "democracy is going to make it like America Europe and Oz. It did not then and will not now. We will see in 15 to 20 years how many people are wringing their hand's in woe about South Africa asking the same questions how could they? and why did they do that?

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

No country which has shown an appaling lack of ability in a certain area, should be even be on that commission, especially as chair.


That made a lot of sense. Wasn't Libya appointed to the chair of the Human Rights Commission?

I'm waiting for Saudi Arabia to be appointed to the chair of the Women's Rights Commission,

I won't be surprised when they do just that, Katie. Saudi, defender of women's rights.

I don't know if I'll laugh or throw up. Or both.