BY SAMUEL NJINGA
Zimbabwe has made significant strides in sustainable forest management, garnering international recognition for its achievements in balancing environmental protection and economic development. In 2024, the country marked a year of impressive progress, with reforestation efforts and sustainable harvesting practices reaching new heights. However, ongoing challenges such as climate change, illegal logging, and community pressures continue to test the country’s resolve.
A Year of Impressive Gains
Zimbabwe’s sustainable forestry initiative, led by the Zimbabwe Forestry Commission (ZFC), has seen remarkable growth over the past year. Data from the ZFC shows that the country planted 60 million tree seedlings in 2024, up from 40 million in 2023, a 50% increase in tree planting activities. These efforts are part of Zimbabwe’s broader commitment to restoring 20% of its forest cover by 2030.
Key regions such as the Eastern Highlands and parts of Mashonaland have benefited from large-scale reforestation campaigns, targeting areas that have suffered from deforestation and land degradation in previous decades.
“Our focus on reforestation and agroforestry is yielding positive results, both in terms of tree cover and community benefits. In 2024, we’ve seen a 25% reduction in deforested areas compared to the previous year,” says Makoto, Information and Communications Manager for Forestry Commission Zimbabwe.
Satellite imagery confirms a 15% increase in forest cover in key regions, and illegal logging incidents have dropped by 30% due to better enforcement and community involvement. Zimbabwe’s efforts have also helped capture an estimated 1.2 million tons of CO2 this year, up from 800,000 tons in 2023.
Empowering Communities for Sustainable Growth
One of the cornerstones of Zimbabwe’s forestry success has been the involvement of rural communities. The government’s agroforestry programs have continued to expand, encouraging farmers to integrate trees into their crop systems.
“Planting trees alongside our crops has transformed our livelihoods,” says Vimbai Hungwe, a farmer from Masvingo. “Last year, I earned $500 from selling fruits from the indigenous trees I planted. This year, that income has doubled, and my crops are doing better because the trees help the soil.”
Innovations in Technology
Zimbabwe’s forestry success is also linked to its adoption of modern technology. In 2024, the Forestry Commission launched a national forest monitoring system that uses satellite data and drones to track forest health in real-time. This system has been instrumental in reducing illegal logging activities, which dropped by 30% this year. In contrast, 2023 saw only a 15% reduction in such activities, highlighting the impact of new technologies.
The mobile app introduced last year, which allows community members and forest rangers to report deforestation incidents and forest fires, has also been widely adopted. Over 5,000 reports were filed through the app in 2024, leading to quicker responses and minimising forest damage.
Challenges persist
Despite these successes, Zimbabwe’s forestry sector faces ongoing challenges. Climate change remains a major threat, as rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns make it harder for newly planted trees to survive. In some regions, up to 30% of the saplings planted this year have failed to thrive due to drought conditions, slightly worse than the 25% recorded in 2023.
“We are seeing more erratic weather, with longer dry spells that threaten our reforestation efforts,” explains Makoto. “Drought-resistant species are part of our solution, but climate change is a battle we’re fighting on multiple fronts.”
Illegal logging, while reduced, remains a problem, especially in remote areas where enforcement is challenging. Despite technological advances, limited resources and personnel mean that some areas remain vulnerable to illegal activities. Additionally, population pressures and land demand.
Future Plans and Global Recognition
Looking ahead, Zimbabwe is aiming to accelerate its forest restoration efforts. Plans are in place to focus more on drought-resistant tree species and increase water harvesting techniques to ensure higher sapling survival rates. The ZFC also intends to expand its agroforestry programs to the drier Matabeleland region, where desertification is a growing concern.
Internationally, Zimbabwe’s success has garnered attention from environmental organizations and governments seeking models for sustainable forest management. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently recognized Zimbabwe’s achievements, naming it a 2024 “Global Green Champion” for its dedication to environmental sustainability.
“Our forests are a critical component of Zimbabwe and in dealing with climate change particularly in as far as adaptation and mitigation is concerned. Mitigation implies reducing the impact of climate change on human beings while adaptation refers to utilising what is available in order to sustain livelihoods,” says Makota.
“Other Non-Governmental Organisations have joined forces with us in embarking on education campaign programmes aimed at making sure that communities have alternative livelihoods options. Communities are taught to get and sell indigenous seeds from trees such as Baobabs and Marula whereby they extract oil for the purpose of cosmetics and beverages. Sustainable management is the key to protecting our people, our environment, and our economy,” says Makota.