Zim destroys 400 000ha forest
30/08/2007 11:33 - (SA)


Harare - 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

When is Mugube going to wake up and allow some Western aid into the country? As I see it, unless that happens in the near future, the country's going to plunge into some serious famine.

The problem is he uses aid as a political tool only zanu pf members gets food

Seems to go hand in hand with Zim's inflation rate. . .

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanna:
When is Mugube going to wake up and allow some Western aid into the country? As I see it, unless that happens in the near future, the country's going to plunge into some serious famine.

Bull on Western Aid (read United States). Why should the West always have to run around pulling other people's chestnuts out of the fire?

Let them wallow in the problems they created. Perhaps if they have to get out of their own mess they will learn something.

If not, perhaps Zimbabwe's future lies in just being an example.

He had Western aid until he kicked his own white citizens off their farms.

Zimbabwe DIDN'T NEED aid when it was called Rhodesia. That about covers it. jorge

All that wood is needed for tooth picks. Poached Venison has a habit of sticking between the teeth!

Who isn't destroying forests? The U. S. isn't exactly destroying housing subdivisions to build forests.

quote:

Originally posted by Kensco:
Who isn't destroying forests? The U. S. isn't exactly destroying housing subdivisions to build forests.

people here aren't starving or going without power either!!!!!!!!! as much as i hate to see it because of the few white Zimbabweans left, the sooner that country sinks into chaos, the sooner the average black realizes he has been screwed by uncle bob and moves on to something different( and hopefully better). it will NEVER be better under the Zanu-PF. as an aside, i am grateful that Malaysia is showing the rest of us backward first world countries how it is done in respect to protecting the environment, especially their rainforest.

There is no oil in zim if there was the west would have sorted out the problem already. it would not take 7 years. there is no incentive to get that dictatorship to a democracy again

Another problem with the avg. black person is that they always still vote wrong. Even though Mugabe has been screwing them they dont know of any better. The idea of political competion hasnt sunk in yet. That all comes back to Africas dictators as long as you can vote for him surely he canot be a dictator!

quote:

Originally posted by 375 fanatic:
There is no oil in zim if there was the west would have sorted out the problem already. it would not take 7 years. there is no incentive to get that dictatorship to a democracy again

Why the hell should the west come to his aid even if there was "OIL"? You are his neighbor to the south. Why doesn't your country do something? You have a lot more at stake than some poor guy in America living in Kansas or any other state.

I haven't exactly seen any African Govt call for anything to be done about Mugabe or Zim. Why don't you and your country try to become part of the solution, instead of remaining part of the problem. Africa is, for the most part, extremely corrupt and continues to accept corrupt leaders.

Those living in glass houses should not cast the first stones.

Mac

What a lovely subject!!!

Zimbabwean's need to fix THEIR situation themselves. As long as the citizens remain quiet about it the longer Uncle Bob will stay and torment them. They are nothing more than a bunch of morons. To hell with them.

The Serbians forcibly evicted Milosovic(sp) without fear of being shot. They took care of things themselves. Zimbabweans need to do likewise....sure Bob will come out guns ablazing, but they must have surely realized there is no other solution - fight!!!

quote:

There is no oil in zim if there was the west would have sorted out the problem already. it would not take 7 years. there is no incentive to get that dictatorship to a democracy again

Care to know why China is spending so much money there then?

platinum for one, and lots of it.