The Government is set to overhaul its forestry governance and institutional arrangements under the eighth pillar of the National Forest Policy, addressing longstanding issues with outdated legislation and fragmented regulatory frameworks.
Forestry sector governance has been primarily dictated by the Communal Land Forest Produce Act (Chapter 19:04) and the Forest Act (Chapter 19:05), both of which are considered outdated. These pieces of legislation, along with several others including the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27), Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14), Rural District Councils Act (Chapter 29:13), Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05), and the Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29:17), have created a complex and sometimes contradictory landscape for forest management in the country.
Recognizing the need for a more cohesive and modern approach, the government proposes merging the two principal forestry laws into a single, comprehensive Forest Act. This new legislation will be aligned with Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), regional protocols, Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), and the Constitution of Zimbabwe, while also cross-referencing other relevant laws.
“Laws are an essential component of effective management of forest resources. Therefore, they should be dynamic, locally and internationally accountable, and should set demands, impose duties, and create obligations to society for the sustainable use, management, and protection of forest resources,” states the policy document.
In addition to legislative reform, the government plans to review and harmonize all policies, laws, and programs related to forest resources. Use participatory appraisals to ensure that the needs, attitudes, perceptions, and concerns of local communities are considered when crafting forest policies and legislation.
The government is set to enact stringent penalties for crimes against forests, standardizing these across all legal entities, including those managed by traditional leaders, enforce legislation rigorously to prevent illegal forest exploitation and promote actions to reduce deforestation and woodland degradation, enhance the capacity of national institutions, including local authorities and community institutions, to facilitate the conservation, management, and sustainable use of forest resources.
The policy will also strengthen the Forestry Commission’s ability to provide advice and support for sustainable forest management programs and regulate forest use, including granting arrest powers to its employees and bolster the Forestry Commission’s Regulatory and Enforcement Unit, ensuring it is well-resourced to effectively carry out its responsibilities.
The government highlights the importance of community buy-in and collaboration in these efforts. By involving local communities in the policy-making process, the government hopes to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for forest conservation among the populace.
The comprehensive approach is expected to modernize Zimbabwe’s forestry governance, ensuring that forest resources are managed sustainably and protected for future generations.
