Deforestation in Zmibabwe

Deforestation and  its effects in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, home to more than 14 million people, is currently facing a severe economic crisis which is contributing to the continued environmental degradation. . This however has been rapidly leading to a high rate of environmental degradation in the form of a high rate of deforestation. During urbanization, large chunks of land are cleared to prepare space for human urban settlements. These acts are not usually met with the opposite, as the trees that are cut down and the nature is not replaced in the same rate, if not at all ignored. 

In newly established cities like Emganwini and Cow-dray Park in Bulawayo, where most households have not been electrified due to the economic recession in the country,people are surviving on the collection of firewood in the nearby plantations.

This is an environmental hazard that in years of practice exposes the land to erosion which then is one of the processes of desertification.

 At Emganwini in 2008 the locals used to collect firewood just after the Plumtree Road, but with the years having passed , firewood is now being collected at Matopo Research which is over 10 km in distance. this means that tall trees and vegetation between Emganwini and Matopo Research have been chopped down . Therefore the land is now subject to agents of erosion.

It is therefore important for environmental protection to make efforts to curb such environmental degradation actions. The first step that is necessary is to educate the public on the continued effects of such land degradation measures. It is also important to consider the origins of such on going deforestation activities, and it is notable that due to the economic recession in Zimbabwe, the government is unable to complete its urban electrification projects.