By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu says training is key in protecting forests emphasizing the need to bring down to zero the deforestation rate.
Speaking at the successful completion of Forestry training by 35 men and women from the Forest Industries Training Centre/Zimbabwe College of Forestry today, Minister Ndlovu said climate change posed a threat to a green economy.
“By protecting forests, we are also complementing our National Development Strategy which should position us on the right trajectory to contribute towards the attainment of Vision 2030. Everyone has a role to play.
“In Forestry, we now see our Youths running enterprises in the areas such as nursery, silviculture, harvesting, pole-making, milling, and others which used to be a preserve for the large companies.”
These new entrants into the Forestry Industry definitely, he said, needed some training so that their operations are green.
“In addition, the composition of Forestry workforce and occupational profiles within it are also changing constantly due to evolving technology and management requirements, creating more gaps in competencies of personnel and more need for training. Colleges need to move with these changes identifying these gaps and taking swift action,” he said.
“If we continue to destroy our forests, and we lose the benefits from them that I have highlighted above, the climate will change faster, with the following consequences, among others:
- Higher than normal temperatures each year
- Unpredictable weather patterns
- More frequent occurrences of floods/droughts
- Decline in numbers of tree and animal species
- Emergence of new diseases
He appealed to the Timber Industry and other stakeholders to help capacitate the Forestry Colleges with the appropriate technologies so that they strengthen their training efforts.
“In summary with climate change we experience more frequent extreme weather patterns.
“This gap can be addressed by training. Training should include competencies in the effective use of modern technologies, the ability to cope with the impacts of climate change, with greater emphasis on prevention, than control.
“We need to bring down to zero the deforestation rate given above,” Minister Ndlovu said.
He said with the onset of Covid-19 the large numbers of students could be trained at a lower cost by the E-learning mode than by the face-to-face mode.
“The practical component could then be scheduled for execution when the situation allows. I know that setting up a powerful and effective Internet system for a vibrant E-learning system requires a considerable investment for a small institution such as the Forestry Colleges.
“I therefore call upon the stakeholders of the Forestry Colleges to join hands in setting up this powerful Internet system and related infrastructure to enable effective E-Learning,” he said.
He challenged the industrialists who form part of this community to enter into green arrangements with the Forestry Colleges to capacitate them.
He urged the graduates to create jobs for themselves.
“There are plenty of opportunities around everyone. Take advantage of them and create wealth. We expect you to make a green contribution to the environment, the economy, the society and to your family,” he said.
More than 70 percent of people in Africa live in rural areas and depend much on forestry resources for some part of their livelihood.
Zimbabwe’s forest resources also contribute about three to four percent of the gross domestic product.
Other than the direct benefits from forest products, forests also play a very important role in the regulation of climate.
It is estimated that 260 000 hectares of forests are lost annually in Zimbabwe.
The rate of destruction has to be arrested as a matter of urgency because it poses a serious threat to the global environmental health and to the well-being of communities who are dependent on forests.
Main causes of deforestation include, logging, fuelwood harvesting, unsustainable agricultural activities, mining, urbanization, timber production and forest fires.
Notable effects of our degraded environment are depleted resources including minerals, flora and fauna; formation of gullies due to uncontrolled levels of soil erosion; high levels of siltation in rivers and major dams; and low water tables.
Of the 35 graduates 26 were men and 9 were women and Minister Ndlovu challenged the Forest colleges to strive for gender balance in our enrolment.
The graduation was held under the theme ‘Promoting a green economy through Forestry training’ which is quite a befitting one in the current economic environment.
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