Tragedy of the commons? Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to forestry in Zambia is the lack of deliberate written policy to guide forestry business in the country. The fact that a forestry department exists is evidence that government accepts that forests need to be managed. However, lack of guiding policies shows how low the sector lies in the hierarchy of government priority. Recent developments may be a sign of changing tides. I commend the steps taken by government to boost the sector and kick start the review of the forest act, but questions must be asked. Firstly, what’s wrong forest act of 1999? The Forest Act of 1999 Cap. 199 of the Laws of Zambia meant to repel the Forest Act No. 39 of 1973. However, those who follow forestry business know well that for over ten year both acts have been existing simultaneously, both being partially implemented. Maybe a simple solution is to do away with the old one completely and enforce more recent fully. I’ll leave that for you to debate. Secondly, if a new act is the way forward, what stake holders should be involved in formulating such? I remember having a chat with one Phillip Powell of eco livelihoods and he remarked that the problem in Zambia is that we want to segment the various environmental sectors. There is much we can take from that. I is folly to speak of forestry without mentioning other sectors, because these are designed to exist symbiotically. Forestry, agriculture, lands, wildlife and other key sectors are closely related, and activity in one is reflected in the other sectors. At present, no formal structures of cooperation and coordination amongst environmental sectors exist. Experience, both locally and internationally has shown that failure in forestry initiatives have failed because of underlying like land tenure. It is therefore vital that as we look to reinvigorate forestry in Zambia, we focus on strengthening the links with other environmental sectors. We need to recognize that the problems we face in the forestry sector are multi-faceted, hence interventions should be like wise. Remember friends, “Forestry is not about trees, it is about people, and it is about trees only in so far as trees serve the needs to people”- Westoby 1989
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 20:27:13 +0000
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