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President Mugabe said Zimbabwe has 17 million hectares of forest cover that is depleting at 330 thousand hectares per annum and at that rate it will take only 53 years for it to vanish.

He said something drastic has to be done in the form of an aggressive replanting of trees.
The President said the 17 million hectares represent a 45% of Zimbabwe’s land area and the country has potential to tape into the international carbon markets and enjoy financial benefits.
He said the planting and sustainable use of the environment must be practical, adding that foresters and scientists have to speedily investigate how the country can benefit from the multi-billion dollar carbon market.

Brazil is already enjoying the carbon markets.
Accompanying the President were the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Cde Francis Nhema, Governor and Resident Minister for Mashonaland East Province, Cde Eanias Chigwedere, Goromonzi West member of the House of Assembly,Beatrice Nyamupinga and Goromonzi East House of Assembly member, Paddy Zhanda.

The President was present with two lion cubs, a male and a female.-zbc