Steve Ephraem
IN the previous episode, we outlined various factors which lead to desertification in the Lowveld of Chipinge. The problems require readdress actions.
Awareness
Education is very important in changing people’s attitudes towards nature. If people understand and accept that they need to conserve resources, they will not wait for someone to enforce a law in order for them to protect trees and other resources.
Research
Research is very important to see how best an area can overcome and arrest environmental problems which lead to desertification. People can look into this issue of desertification and come up with short term to long term solutions.
Reforestation
It is important that the land which has already been affected by deforestation be reclaimed. Planting of trees is crucial in this aspect. Establishment of community nurseries for the purpose of reforestation can be done.
Each community can identify an area where it can establish a communal woodlot. After that each household can be encouraged to plant own trees and ground cover.
Sustainable tree harvest
As people prepare to rehabilitate the already damaged environment, it is very vital to start practicing conservation methods to the few resources that are still remaining. This calls for sustainable tree harvest putting the future in mind.
Most communal people depend on wood as a source of fuel. The use of dead wood would save the day. The problem comes when people over-harvest the resources for commercial charcoal production.