The wood industry of Zimbabwe has lost millions of dollars in the last months, due to the wild fires which destroyed several plantations.
Aproximately 15000 hectares of forest have been destroyed. The majority of the trees were 3-9 years old.
„This must be the most disastrous fire season ever recorded in this country”, declares the director of the Wood Manufacturers Association, Joseph Kanyekanye.
„It takes 25 years for a tree to reach maturity, in order to be cut down and proccesed to obtain quality wooden products”, he adds.
Zimbabwe’s wood industry was on the verge of collapse two months ago. This situation was worsen by the simultaneous bursting of the fires, in different locations.
It appears that the fires were caused by locals who were preparing their lands for plantation. Yet, only one arrest has been made in this case.
Joseph Kanyekanye insists that the government adopt a „plantation policy”, whic, among other stipulations, must ban the lightings of fires at least 5 km away from the edge of the forest |
