Nyanje bemoans deforestation
By Richard Luo in Sinda
Wed 22 Jan. 2014, 14:00 CAT
CHIEFTAINESS Nyanje of the Nsenga people in Sinda district has expressed concern at the high rate of deforestation in the area.
In an interview at her palace on Friday, chieftainess Nyanje said some people in the area were indiscriminately cutting down trees for burning charcoal. She said there was a high demand for charcoal in the district.
Chieftainess Nyanje said the indiscriminate cutting of trees also contributed to climate change.
She said it was unfortunate that some people were even cutting trees in reserved and respected areas such as graveyards, saying according to tradition, it was wrong to do so.
Chieftainess Nyanje said a man was penalised after he was found cutting trees at a graveyard, adding that she would not hesitate to punish anyone found engaging in similar acts.
And Chipata Central member of parliament Reuben Mtolo Phiri has encouraged people to develop a culture of planting trees.
Phiri appealed to councillors and ward chairpersons to take part in the tree-planting exercises.
He said the government had released a lot of trees which were supposed to be planted in the constituency.
Phiri, who was on a weekend tour of the constituency, also visited some projects being implemented in the constituency.
Labels: CHIEFTAINESS NYANJE, DEFORESTATION
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Deforestation in Monze worries forestry dept
By Pride Bwalya in Monze
Wed 10 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE forestry department in Monze has expressed worry over the alarming rate of deforestation in some parts of the district. In an interview in Monze on Monday, forestry department extension assistant Rays Mwansa said that deforestation was rampant inchiefs Choongo and Hamusonde's areas.
He also complained that government was losing a lot of revenue which was supposed to be paid to the department for licences for those trading in charcoal and other forest products.
Mwansa also said that the chiefs' councils of both Choongo and Hamusonde areas were issuing a licence called the Royal Licence contrary to the laws of Zambia and were collecting levy.
He called for reinforcement of the forestry Act in order to curb deforestation and preserve forests for other important and economic benefits.
He said that it was unfortunate that charcoal traders were made to pay for other licences instead of them obtaining the forestry licence which mandates them to trade within fourteen days.
Mwansa also called onthe Zambia Wildlife Authority to stop allowing charcoal traders going through the Lochinvar National Park without a licence from forestry department.
He said that the departmenthad planned to carry out sensitisation meetings for traditional leaders and other members of the community on the procedures and the forestry act in order to help them understand the role of forestry department in the protection of natural resources.
He said that the department was unable to conduct sensitisation meetings and aforestation and reforestation regularly because it was faced with transport challenges.
Meanwhile, Billiant Halwiindi, a charcoal trader from chief Hamusonde's area said the chief's council was levying them KR100 for the royal licence per month.
Labels: DEFORESTATION, MONZE
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