Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) has called on all stakeholders to protect the forests.
The ministry indicates that there are four hundred and seventy seven (477) Protected Forest Areas in Zambia.
The ministry further highlights that these Forest Reserves were established as production and protection areas. By law, no activities are allowed in the Forest Reserves
without obtaining a license or permit from the Forestry Department.
However, most of the Forest Reserves in the country are encroached. As a result of the reported high levels of encroachment on forest reserves, Hon. Jean Kapata, M.P., Minister of Lands and Natural Resources through a Press Briefing on 22nd January 2018 directed that all those who had encroached on forest reserves must move out.
Meanwhile, following the Minister's Press Briefing, the Forestry Department issued
eviction notices to all individuals or entities that had encroached on
Forest Reserves to direct them to immediately move out of the Protected
Forest Areas. For those that were cultivating various crops, they were
asked to move out by 30th June 2018 after harvesting their crops of the
current growing season.
However, Government's decision to evict the people who had encroached
on Forest Reserves had raised concern among some stakeholders. The
concerns were on the basis that some Forest Reserves were highly
encroached and people had put up some structures. Some Local
Authorities who had allocated plots in the Forest Reserves compounded
the problem. In certain cases, there were massive Government
infrastructure such as Schools and Health facilities in some affected
areas.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is worth noting that most of the Forest
Reserves are ecologically sensitive water catchment areas as they are
sources of streams and rivers of economic importance to the nation. In
this regard such areas need to be protected. It is therefore necessary to
uphold and enforce the Forests Act.
The Ministry through the Forestry Department is now undertaking
assessments in all Provinces to ascertain the extent of encroachment on
Forest Reserves and their variability.
Once the assessments are
completed and received with recommendations, only then will the
Ministry proceed in a rational manner in line with the Minister's
directive.
Our clarion call is that Government's decision to deal with the
lawbreakers is not politicized. The final decision will be based on a case-
by-case basis considering all possible options.
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About the Author:
Winston Muleba Junior is a Researcher,
Citizen Journalist, Blogger, Scientist, Writer
and Disaster Management Practitioner who
uses media and ICT to promote science,
technology and innovation. He gravitates
towards environment: water, aquaculture,
land, climate change and agriculture as he is
skilled at juxtaposing the latest research and
expert opinion with the everyday lives and
struggles of people on the ground.
Email: mwenyamuleba@gmail.com.
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