Forestry Commission trains, donates beehives to Chipinge community

TENDAI MUSWERA     IN CHIPINGE

The Forest commission of Zimbabwe in partnership with Green Institute Trust this week trained and donated 150 beehives  to communities around Chirinda Forest in Chipinge district, Manicaland Province, Business Times can report.

The communities included Chagonda, Muwango, Masheedze, Dimire and Mt Selinda High School.

Forest Commission of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Violet Makoto, told Business Times that  the commission chose Chirinda communities due to its closeness to the only tropical rain forest in Zimbabwe.

She said they also chose communities around the Chirinda Forest in Chipinge to be part of the commemoration of the International Day of Forests in recognition of their work in assisting in the conservation of the only tropical rain forest in Zimbabwe.

“Chirinda Forest is a biodiverse area and something quite spectacular and also home to such a feature that we call the big tree.

“The community around Chirinda Forest has been quite supportive of our conservation initiatives in the forest and this year we decided that they should be actually benefiting from their conservation efforts,” Makoto said.

“We have trained communities living around Chirinda Forest in beekeeping and today [Monday] to mark the International Day of Forests, we were actually handing over beehives to five  groups in the area so that they embark on serious beekeeping projects.

“As Forestry Commission these are projects that we have been rolling out in different communities as a way of safe keeping of forest.

“The communities received 150 beehives and about 200 rural people benefited from these beehives.”

Makoto said there is a belief that if residents are given a portion of land they will have a feeling of belonging therefore reducing the rate of deforestation, veld fire and also gel into environmental conservation and issues of climate change.

“These projects are meant to involve communities in the continued protection of the forest. The apiaries will be set up on the periphery of the forest so that the communities also benefit from their local resources,” she said.

“Chirinda communities have been very supportive and committed to the conservation of their forest and we will continue to work with them and provide the market linkages that will make these beekeeping projects a viable livelihood option.”

Co-founder of Green Institute Trust Blessing Matasva said: “The community welcomed the efforts being put in place to come with nature based solutions to forest conservation.

The initiative of promoting non timber products (beekeeping) will go a long way in improving livelihoods.”

Mutasva  applauded the Forest Commission of Zimbabwe for opening up Chirinda Forest  to the community, something which will ensure they  continue conserving the forest.

The Green Institute Trust is a community based organisation working in climate change and gender empowerment.