“Leaf Your Mark on the Planet”
In the past decade, the issue of global warming and climate change has been quite controversial and a bit biased when we map out the top contributors of carbon emissions in the atmosphere, pollution and deforestation. Mankind’s selfish interests and desire to industrialize on a large scale have sickened the earth to a point where tsunami waves, cyclones, heat waves, floods, and earthquakes are the fevers giving the global powers a headache.
Climate change refers to the long-term warming of the planet due to increased greenhouse gases. In Zimbabwe, climate change has led to rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and an increased frequency of extreme weather events. This has resulted in deforestation, soil erosion, and reduced agricultural productivity, affecting the livelihoods of rural communities.
Speaking at an exclusive interview, Munashe Muntsago, one of the young minds advocating and fighting for the protection of the environment, is the co-founder and chairperson for the Green World Growers NGO, and he expressed concerns over the degrading maintenance of wild and natural life in Zimbabwe.
His target audience was essentially the community and the young men and women of today and tomorrow. Green World Growers is a vibrant NGO dedicated to combating climate change and environmental degradation through afforestation efforts across Africa. Their mission is to inspire individuals, communities, and organizations to join hands in planting, nurturing, and protecting trees, promoting a healthier planet.
The founder and chairperson mentioned certain laws in Zimbabwe whose mandates are to promote sustainable natural resource management, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance climate resilience. The Environmental Management Act (2002); the Forest Act (1996); the National Environmental Policy (2013); and the Climate Change Response Strategy (2014) are such laws that a country is familiar with in implementing environmental protection and preservation.
“There are efficient but not entirely perfect laws in Zimbabwe that help with the fight against climate change and food insecurity. The Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) provides for the sustainable management of natural resources and the protection of the environment as it focuses on preventing pollution and environmental degradation and is administered by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
“I am quite familiar with the laws that protect the environment however there is a lack of progressive community participation and engagement, some of the laws are well and respected, whlie others are neglected especially when you witness the current state of certain national parks that receive funding from the government tax payers,” the founder remarked.
There is the Communal Lands Forestry Produce Act (19:07), which regulates the exploitation of forest produce within communal lands and encourages the establishment of plantations allowing local councils to manage forest resources and issue licenses for their use. Corrupt loopholes have sprouted around this law such that disputes over land ownership and productivity have become too political especially during the aftermath of grabbing and redistributing land, an interesting agenda honored by political clicks.
The founder trusts that the best efforts in response to climate change are afforestation and community farming. Agroforestry and community farming can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation in several ways including the encouragement of tree planting, reducing soil erosion and increasing carbon sequestration.
Community-led initiatives promote climate-resilient agriculture and enhance food security and livelihoods. Global commercial methods of farming may not be as natural or environmentally friendly; therefore, the community initiative will help reduce synthetic fertilizer use, promote soil health, and develop sustainable agriculture methods.
“Community farming and afforestation can provide alternative sources of income for local communities through the sale of timber, fruits, and other forest products, which is particularly important for marginalized communities in Zimbabwe. Establishing fruit tree orchards as part of afforestation efforts ensures food and nutrition security at the household level, helping to combat hunger and malnutrition, a dilemma our country progressively faces.
“Injunction with community farming, afforestation programs create employment opportunities for local communities, particularly in rural areas. Afforestation is part of the mechanism when it concerns climate change and certain species help maintain biodiversity, provide shade, and support local ecosystems.
“Green World Growers recommends planting the following species of trees that would benefit the eco-system, which are namely the Miombo (Brachystegia spiciformis); Msasa (Brachystegia julbernardii); Mukwa (Pterocarpus angolensis); and the Baobab (Adansonia digitata).
“Afforestation helps restore degraded lands and increases the overall forest cover in Zimbabwe, which is crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health. Planting trees helps prevent soil erosion, improves soil fertility, and enhances water retention, which is vital in semi-arid regions. They also absorb carbon dioxide, therefore playing a significant role in mitigating climate change effects,” stated the founder.
Afforestation and community farming in Zimbabwe can immensely contribute to environmental sustainability, economic development, and social well-being, especially now that US-aid and certain medicines are no longer provisioned to most African states. It’s a medicinal area of study, farming will unlock a world of herbs and spices that are used to make the very foreign medications we consume as Africans, but more cheaply and with fewer artificial side effects.
Due to globalization and certain trade agreements, Zimbabwe has been experiencing high rates of deforestation, with an estimated loss of over 330,000 hectares of forests annually due to wildfires, agricultural expansion, extreme mining, and illegal logging. The country has one of the highest deforestation rates in southern Africa, which directly impacts afforestation efforts.
The expansion of agriculture, particularly tobacco farming, contributes significantly to deforestation. Tobacco curing requires large amounts of firewood, which exacerbates the loss of trees and complicates afforestation efforts. The government has introduced levies on tobacco farmers to support afforestation, but the long-term impacts of these policies remain uncertain.
Afforestation programs often include educational components that raise awareness about environmental issues and sustainable practices, promoting a culture of conservation within communities. Education and engagement is essential, especially to the younger generation that will inherit the environment, thus, community farming initiatives empower local populations by involving them in decision-making processes regarding land and resource management. This fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility towards environmental conservation.