CHIEF Bunda-Bunda of Rufunsa and Chongwe districts has banned the indiscriminate cutting down of trees for charcoal production.
The decision was arrived at during the Royal Council Meeting that was held on April 25, this year.
Chief Bunda-Bunda said that indiscriminate cutting of tree had negatively impacted on agriculture, resulting in low productivity and low crop yields.
The traditional leader said tree cutting also fuelled climate change and land degradation in his chiefdom at the same time affecting the rain pattern.
“At the full Royal Council Meeting , it was unanimously agreed to ban the indiscriminate cutting down of trees in our chiefdom including within our traditional shrines for purposes of charcoal production with immediate effect.
“This act has negatively impacted on agriculture, climate change and land degradation in my chiefdom which has also affected the rain pattern,” the traditional leader said.
Chief Bunda-Bunda has given the charcoal burners up to the end of this month to cease their activities or face the law.
He further pointed out that all line departments such as the police, local authorities and the department of National Parks and Wildlife had been called upon to help halt the scourge.
Government through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is implementing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) which is Grant of USD2, 184, 555 for the development of a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for Climate Resilience.
The Grant would enable Government to formulate a medium to long-term climate adaptation plan, which would strengthen systems for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning and budget processes.
The NAP will also facilitate the development of prioritised adaptation actions with financing strategies. – ZANIS
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