Fire destroys 15 000 hectares of forest
Fire destroys 15 000 hectares of forest
31 October 2008
published by www.newsnet.co.zw
Zimbabwe — The Timber Council of Zimbabwe says it has lost over 15 000 hectares of forests to veldt fire in the current season.
The chairman of the council Mr. Joseph Kanyekanye said despite the statutory instrument gazetted this year that prohibits the lighting of uncontrolled fires from the first of July to the 30th of October, fires were lit resulting in the loss of timber.
He said the major culprits are illegal settlers who settled in defiance of the law which states that no one may settle in a plantation.
Uncontrolled fires have had a negative impact on timber production and affected production in downstream industries which rely on wood products for raw materials.
