CNZ INSISTS BANNING OF CHARCOAL TO CONTROL DEFORESTATION IS THE WAY TO GO

By Kalobwe Bwalya

THE decision by the ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MoGEE) to ban the issuance of permits for the production of charcoal in three Districts in Central Province will help in controlling the alarming levels of deforestation which may also lead to disturbance of water and other biodiversity, Care for Nature Zambia (CNZ) Executive Director Nsama Musonda has said.

Ms. Musonda in an interview urged the MoGEE through the Forestry Department to use the Forestry Fund to provide alternative livelihoods for the affected charcoal producers.

She stated that there was also a need for MoGEE to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to implement the convention on Biological diversity and to domesticate the National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan.

She said this was because places were benefiting from revenue which was derived from natural resources, forests inclusive.

She explained that once communities saw the benefits coming from timber and non-timber products, they would engage in conservation and enforcement of laws will be done in a manner that communities did not see injustice or disruption of livelihoods

“There is a need for the Forestry Department to take the CRB approach and ensure that the resource sharing mechanism was put in place with outlined percentages of how Forestry revenue would be shared. Having community resource boards under the Forestry Act like we have under the Wildlife Act will help to prevent incidents such as Chiefs being arrested over timber,” Ms. Musonda said.

On Monday, the Government banned the issuance of permits for the production of charcoal in three Districts in Central Province until further notice. The three districts are Mumbwa, Itezhi Tezhi, and Shibuyunji.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment Minister Collins Nzovu said the ban on issuance of Cord- Wood permits was due to the unprecedented levels of deforestation in the country.

Mr. Nzovu disclosed that people currently in possession of valid Cord Wood Permits had only up to May 1, 2024 within which to finalise their charcoal production.

He expressed concern that the forests in Zambia had continued to be subjected to a lot of pressure from a number of factors.

“Among the factors are numerous requests for degazetting of forest reserves and the high levels of illegal cutting down of trees for charcoal production,” he said.