The current sustained pressures on Zimbabwe’s environment especially forests is directly linked to the energy crisis that has been affecting the country at large over a long period. Environmentalists including institutions such as the Forestry Company and EMA, who also are the main stewards of the environment all agree that the country has lost a whopping 45% of its forest cover over the years and a large chuck is attributed to power shortages which have caused many energy users to turn to charcoal as an alternative energy source. It has reached a crittical level which demands serious action, that is stopping the tide and planting trees now.
The assault on our forests does not only deprive the country of its trees but a whole ecosystem disappears with it. Ecosystems are the fundamental legs on which our existence as humans as well as the fauna and flora stand on for survival. Taking the above into consideration it then becomes a serious cause for concern as well as a mandate for organizations such as MAYA and other stakeholders who care for the environment to question the degree to which loadshedding has and continue to contribute and aid in the havoc being wrecked upon our beloved ecosystems. It is high time that corrective measures are made to breathe life into the ailing power /energy sector inorder to save our souls or we perish with our eyes wide open like dried fish. A new energy investment regime premised on renewable energy alternatives such as wind, solar and biogas should be implemented as a matter of urgency.
This on going loadshedding by the power utility has left many companies that relay heavily on electricity supply to come up with alternative ways of generating power which are rather destructive more than constructive. Alternative sources include gas, coal and the most common being fire wood. Woodlands in Manicaland haven’t been spared from this dilemma .
It is under this purview that City of Mutare, Environmental Management Agency and MAYA amongst others have joined hands in educating the public through community engagements on the need to conserve, preserve and protect the environment and conducting reforestation activities around the city as a step towards stemming this challenge .
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In light of the above MAYA and other stake holders would like to invite members of the public to join us in commemorating national tree planting day_Month.
Together we can reduce the adverse effects of climate change, together we can Go Green and Feel clean preserving our natural ecosystems