Tourism, Environment and Nature Resources minister Catherine Namugala says government is worried of the high levels of deforestation in the country.
Ms. Namugala said it was for this reason that government has put in place legislative measures to incorporate communities in the fight against deforestation in the country.
She said that it was paramount for every Zambian to plant trees in the country as a measure of mitigating the challenges of deforestation the country has continued to face.
The minister said it was in this manner among others that government was keen to see to it that the issue of deforestation is given the urgency it deserves.
The Tourism Minister said this yesterday to mark the World Environment Day which falls tomorrow that the levels of deforestation was a matter of concern which needs urgent attention.
This years World Environment Day is being cerebrated under the theme” Trees for people.” Zambia and other countries world over depend largely on forest to support people’s livelihood.
Ms. Namugala said forests plays a very important role in peoples lives saying it is everyone responsibility to ensure that trees are preserved for the benefit of all mankind.
[ ZANIS ]
This Govt is WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE, from the day they sold forest reserves to private loggers whose primary purpose is to deforest & make a profit. Having stripped the Dept of Forestry, or rather got rid of it under FTJ, the forests have continued to disappear at an alarming rate!!. Forest rangers who were effective were gotten rid of or impoverished further. As the population that mugala is talking about has been further impoverished by this Govt forcing them to rely on cheap fuel – mainly charcoal & firewood. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW ALIENATED THIS GOVT IS – DOESN’T SEEM TO KNOW HOW ITS OWN PEOPLE LIVE OR TRY TO SURVIVE!!
How do you expect deforestation to end when you are are not providing solar panels to rural people? instead you misplace priority by giving solar gyesers to people in towns useless government. Vote for SATA to move the nation.
Charcoal is cheaper than using electricity.