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Peter Matika Bulawayo Bureau

FIRST Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has highlighted the vital and crucial role that trees and forests play in achieving Vision 2030. She said these natural resources are not only important for the ecological balance but also for the socio-economic development of the country.

Dr Mnangagwa who is also the environment patron, said this yesterday in Matabeleland North province at a pre-National Tree Planting Day event that was held at Elitsheni Primary School in Bubi district. This year’s exercise is running under the theme: “Trees and Forests for Ecosystems Restoration and improved Livelihood.”

Dr Mnangagwa said trees and forests are some of the natural resources that are critical for the country to realise Vision 2030.

She said as environment patron, it was her duty to remind and encourage Zimbabweans about the importance of Tree Planting and to exhort the nation to continue to care and manage the trees that have already been planted.

The First Lady was represented by Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo.

“My beloved citizens we are all in agreement that trees and forests are important through products and services that we get for our livelihoods. Imagine how life would be in a country without any plant forms in their various categories and uses. What immediately comes to mind is that there would be no oxygen, no timber, no wildlife responsible for boosting tourism, no agriculture and in essence no survival of living organisms including human beings,” said Amai Mnangagwa.

She said trees act as the first line of defence against the vagaries of climate change effects as they provide several climate proofing attributes. Amai Mnangagwa also said the advent of smart cities and green cities approach to urban development demands that urban forestry be considered as a component in land use planning.

She said during the drought periods induced by climate change, people in different parts of the country turn to natural resources for the upkeep of their livelihoods. Dr Mnangagwa said people from the rural areas collect wild fruits and sell them in towns like Bulawayo and Harare in order to generate income to fend for their families.

“Forests are habitats for wildlife and gardens or orchards of indigenous medicines. Trees control rain run-off and as a consequence curb soil erosion and stop siltation that reduces water holding capacities of our rivers and dams. Firewood in the rural areas is collected from forests. Sometimes our urban households and growth points do experience power shortages and some newly established suburbs are yet to be connected to the power grid, causing the residents to fall back on firewood as a source of fuel for domestic energy,” said Dr Mnangagwa.

She said while in some instances people in rural areas planted trees for firewood and livestock fodder, in urban areas people planted trees for fruit, ornamentals, hedges and windbreaks to protect infrastructure.

The First Lady, who is also Zanu PF Secretary for Environment and Tourism, said the Forestry Commission and other stakeholders involved in environmental issues have embarked on legislative reviews aimed at strengthening them, encouraging conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources to enhance livelihoods among communities.

“The thrust includes training communities on how to raise seedlings in nurseries, woodland management on strategic urban pockets of forests, wild land, fire protection, tree planting and agroforestry schemes,” Dr Mnangagwa said.

She highlighted the need to curb rampant tree cutting especially in urban areas saying the results are undesirable.

“Wanton tree cutting has undesirable effects that include blown out rooftops. Tree cutting for firewood selling or making of charcoal is against the law. If there is a need to cut trees at our plots or surroundings we should inform the Forestry Commission together with council officials, who will guide us on proper and lawful ways of trimming and harvesting tree products,” said Amai Mnangagwa.

Hundreds of villagers converged at the school where they were tutored on the importance of tree conservation and tree planting.