…as he notes limited funding towards the ecologically sensitive region.
Minister of Green Economy and Environment Hon Collins Nzovu has called for collaborative efforts in sustainable management of the Miombo Forests between countries within the ecological zone.
Minister Nzovu said this when he represented the Republican President of Zambia His Excellency, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema at the Regional Conference on the Declaration of Sustainable Management of the Miombo Forests held in Maputo, Mozambique.
The Miombo woodland is a tropical and subtropical grassland, savannas, and shrublands located primarily in Central Africa and are essential to the livelihoods of many rural people who depend on the resources available from the woodland.
And Hon. Nzovu notes that the Miombo forests contributes greatly to safeguarding the ecological systems of the ten countries within the Miombo ecosystem including Zambia.
The conference aimed to capitalize on and promote regional partnerships for sustainable and integrated management of Miombo forests in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The event was graced by His Excellency President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa and His Excellency President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, among other dignitaries.
Meanwhile, Hon. Nzovu proposed that in medium term, there is need to kick-start collaborative activities such as coordinated border management, exchange of information and other capacity building activities in view of the Declaration of Sustainable Management of the Miombo Woodlands.
“And on a longer term, Zambia proposes that we enhance exchange of research findings and key interventions that have proven to be successful,” the Minister said.
He has expressed optimism that the signing of the declaration will begin to give hope to local communities living with or adjacent to the Miombo woodlands to having an opportunity to realise the full potential and benefits arising from possible investments in efforts to conserve them.
He has noted with concern that over the years there have been little funding in the Miombo region as compared to the wet equatorial forests.
“This declaration should therefore give a lot of hope through various strategies to be employed on how Miombo forests should be a priority especially that they are a critical resource in climate mitigation and adaptation,” Hon. Nzovu said.
