FAO supports Zimbabwe National Forest Policy Formulation Process

Government calls to re-align local legislation with international conventions

David Chimimba Phiri (FAO) and Séverin MELLAC (Attaché -Economic Cooperation and Food Security Section (EU) (NB: MELLAC was representing the EU Ambassador at the launch) - FAO Photo

Harare, Zimbabwe, 26^th November 2014 - The Government of Zimbabwe has launched the National Forest Policy Formulation Process, as the country starts to step up efforts to have proper guidance for the development of the sector.

The National Forest Policy Formulation Process to take 12months is funded to the tune of US$93 000 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations which will also provide technical assistance.

Zimbabwe does not have a documented National Forest Policy and the Forest Policy Formulation process offers an opportunity for the sector to reflect on issues and come up with a well thought trajectory that will guide the development of Forestry in the country.

The launch of the National Forest Policy Formulation Process and the expected final product will give strategic direction for the sector which has a huge potential for growth and contribution to the economy.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Saviour Kasukuwere said following developments in the international arena, Zimbabwe needs to re-align the forest legislation to the new and emerging issues and concepts on sustainable management of forests that are espoused in the three Rio environmental conventions. This initiative is also in sync with provisions of the SADC protocol on Forestry one of whose objectives is to promote the development, conservation, sustainable management and utilisation of all types of forests and trees.

FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative in Zimbabwe, Chimimba David Phiri, said the organization has a long standing association with the Forest Sector as it has provided technical and financial support to the country through the National Forest Programme Facility (NFPF) between 2009 and 2012.

“All concerned sectors and stakeholders must be involved in achieving these goals. Such a scope requires a broad perspective of land use and natural resource management. Participation of key stakeholders at national and subnational levels throughout the process is therefore important, as is joint ownership of the resulting policy and shared responsibility for policy implementation,” said Phiri.

“It is imperative to ensure consistency and coherence at the outset between the forestry policy and other policies within the environment sector as well as with policies in other related sectors” he added .

Forests and trees outside forests contribute to food security through provision of forest foods and incomes and protection of soils and water resources upon which agriculture depends. Commercial forestry contributes 3 percent to GDP but is currently restricted to the private sector.

It should be noted that most forestry activities occur in the informal sector and are thus not captured in national accounts.

Despite this potential, Zimbabwe is losing its forest resources at an alarming rate of 330 000 hectares per year (FAO, 2010) due to poor management, uncontrolled fires, over-exploitation and conversion to extensive agriculture.

This runs against the grain of global efforts to arrest deforestation especially against a background of the negative impacts of climate change. Deforestation is relatively high in Zimbabwe, like many other countries in the Southern African region, and this is considered a general development problem – people need more land to grow food and there has not been enough employment generation in other sectors (leaving people with no options but to clear land for farming).

Stakeholders in the Forest and related sectors of agriculture, environment, mining, lands, local government and water gathered at the Forestry Commission premises to witness the launch of the Zimbabwe National Forest Policy formulation process.

This is being conducted under the auspices of the USD$ 4.8 million Forest Forces project jointly funded by the EU and FAO. The project is helping 60 000 vulnerable smallholder farmers in 4 provinces of the country to sustainably manage forests, diversify livelihoods sources and enhance their capacity to withstand shocks in times of crises brought about by the vagaries of weather and other natural phenomena.