36% of Zim land degraded

TATENDA CHIKARA IN MASVINGO

At least 36% of land in Zimbabwe has been degraded largely due to rampant deforestation, excessive soil erosion and biodiversity loss, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Raphael Tayerera Faranisi, at the recent Global Environment Facility (GEF) 7 workshop held at Great Zimbabwe Hotel in Masvingo, Ndlovu attributed the land degradation to poverty, lack of sustainable alternatives, population growth and climate change.

Ndlovu said the government had put sustainable land and forest management strategies in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) to reverse or reduce and avoid further land degradation.

“Sustainable land and forest management have been placed as priority strategies to reverse, reduce and avoid accelerated land degradation. Zimbabwe has adopted this strategy as reflected in the NDS1 thrust under the environment protection and management sector,” Ndlovu said.

Speaking at the same event, the Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Ezra Chadzamira said: “Current assessments in the province reveal that approximately 193.7 hectares (ha) are under illegal mining, 2473ha of land are affected by invasive alien species, 131.6km are affected by stream bank cultivation and 716ha are under wetland cultivation.”

He added: “In terms of wildfires, Masvingo Province has lost a total area of 45 560.28ha in the year 2021.”