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Vice President Inonge Wina
Republican vice president Inonge Wina says government is concerned with the continued high rate of illegal harvesting and trade in valuable tree species.
The latest integrated land use assessment report has indicated that Zambia is losing 276,021 hectraes of forests per year due to illegal harvesting and cutting down of various tree species.
Speaking when she launched the national tree planting season in Rufunsa district which will see the planting of three 3 million trees countrywide, Ms Wina called on all districts to establish at least twenty hectares of plantations depending on the prevailing local conditions.
She says the continued trend of illegal harvesting and cutting down of various tree species such as the mukula tree if left unchecked is likely to compromise the economic development and security of the nation.
The vice president states that in recognizing the contribution of trees to GDP, government has come up with a number of measures to control the over exploitation of valuable timber which include the ban on export of raw timber of all species.
She has since noted the need for every citizen especially the young ones to participate in tree planting and also reiterated the call on the private sector to seriously consider investing in the forest sector drawing lessons Nokia in Finland which started as a forest company before diversifying into the telecommunications industry.
The theme for this year’s national tree planting season is “Plant trees to grow the economy sustainably”
Speaking earlier, lands and natural resources minister Jean Kapata reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment in ensuring that trees are protected, and more citizens participate in tree planting exercises.