PICTURE: Tree planting should not be left to government officials only
if Zimbabwe is to benefit from responsible tourism
THE first Saturday of each December marks the beginning of tree planting season in Zimbabwe. The day known as National Tree Planting Day was introduced in 1980 when the country gained independence.
Since then, the President of the Republic Zimbabwe takes part in tree planting commemorations. Forests are one of the country’s natural heritage which play a pivotal role in what we may term responsible tourism.
The act of planting trees can be referred to as forestation. The activity makes great impact during the rainy season which falls between December and March explaining why our National Tree Planting Day was slated in December.
Every year, a forestation target is set for each district, province and the country as a whole. For the 2016-2017 season, Chipinge has a target of 250 000 trees as the provincial target for Manicaland stands at 1 million trees. National target is 15 million trees.
Two government departments, Forestry Commission and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) oversee the forestation from community to national level.
National Tree Planting commemorations used to be colourful events in the 1980s and 1990s but things took a twist from the mid-2000s. A serious tree planting apathy began leaving one wondering what led to the lack of interest.
During the forestation heydays, companies and schools used to take lead in the act. Most companies had a policy of tree planting. Apart from entities like Forestry Commission, Allied Timber, The Wattle Company, Border Timbers and TreeEco whose main business is timber, a few corporates still consider forestation.
Corporates like funeral assurance group, Nyaradzo Group and sugar blue chip company, Tongaat Hulett are doing well in the quest for forestation. Nyaradzo Group is supporting re-greening projects under the Friends of the Environment (FOTE) banner. FOTE established tree nurseries in various schools in the country.
Tongaat Hulett introduced a Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) policy which forestation is one key result areas in its Zimbabwe subsidiaries of Triangle Estate, Hippo Valley Estate and Mwenezana Estate. Touring Tongaat Hulett estates is a memorable event.
Isn’t it impressive to see more companies following suit? If Nyaradzo Group and Tongaat Hulett are making it, why cannot other corporates revive their tree planting zeal?
Communities should not fail or weaken forestation. It’s sad to note that a huge number of people haven’t planted a single tree in the past decade. Some even don’t care for existing trees.
With an estimated population of 13 million people in Zimbabwe, it requires at least a tree to be planted by or for every breathing soul in country in order to come closer to the 15 million national tree target for 2017.
A lot of education has been given to communities on the benefits of conserving nature and trees in particular. If put to better use, the forestry education can be bring many benefits to tourism. How?
Tourism and green go hand-in-glove. Tourists admire nature, especially in its undisturbed state. Wanton destruction of nature works against wildlife tourism and all other forms of tourism.
Most wild plants and wild animals thrive well in their natural habitat. Trees provide excellent homes for a wide range of animals that include birds, squirrels, reptiles, monkeys and insects.
Forests attract tourists in form of scholars, students, researchers and corporates. A lot of study is carried in the forests by researchers from educational institutions and corporates. Some of these tourists would come from abroad, so bringing in the much needed foreign currency into the country.
Research tourists promote responsible tourism. Study tourists don’t destroy nature. They revere forests as the living libraries.
Planting trees helps in community integration and responsibility. Communities tend to unite in conservation of the trees. When people harvest own trees for fuel wood, they do it responsibly. This will also relieve pressure on natural forests.
When a neighbourhood has trees as landmarks, people proudly invite friends and business associates to their communities for holiday making. Trees add value to communities and homes. Therefore, planted trees motivate responsible tourism.