The Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) has made a significant contribution to environmental conservation by donating over 5,000 trees to the National Assembly of Zambia.
The trees are intended to contribute to the country’s reforestation efforts and promote environmental conservation. The donation is part of ZAFFICO’s continued efforts to promote afforestation in the country which has come at a time when Zambia is grappling with the negative effects of deforestation, such as soil erosion and climate change.
The trees donated are Pine trees seedlings which are well-suited to the Zambian climate as they are a renewable resource, meaning that it can be harvested and replanted without depleting the environment. Pine tree is also biodegradable and can be easily recycled or repurposed.
At a time when a full grown pine tree cost about K1, 500, the Corporation has donated over K750, 000 to the national assembly of Zambia.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lusaka attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZAFFICO Chairperson Alvert Ng’andu said ZAFFICO is concerned with the devastating effects of climate change on various sectors of the country’s economy both at global and national level.
He noted that Zambia has not been spared from the effects and has in the past few years experienced flash floods and droughts in some parts of the country. He added that there are already indications of a possible dry spell in some parts of the country this rainy season.
He said the Corporation is aware of the National Assembly of Zambia’s commitment to tree planting initiatives such as “Promoting a green parliament campaign” and assured the National Assembly of the Corporation’s highest commitment to the partnership.
He also commended the speaker of the National Assembly for participating at the just ended United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change -UNFCCC- Conference of parties -COP- 28. Ngandu congratulated the speaker of the assembly Ms. Nelly Muti for being the first speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia to participate at a COP since its inception accompanied by parliamentarians from the parliamentary caucus.
He said it is for this reason that addressing climate change calls for concerted efforts across all levels of governance.
Ngandu further disclosed that the corporation plans to increase its hectares of forest plantations to 100, 000 hectares. He said to achieve this in line with its strategic focus and business diversification drive, ZAFFICO is investing in forest expansion and value addition activities.
He said the corporation’s forest expansion strategy demonstrates the corporation’s commitment towards contributing to climate change mitigation.
“As a corporation involved in the establishment and management of forest plantations, we are committed to joining forces with the national assembly in addressing the effects of climate change” said Nga’ndu.
Nga’ndu has therefore encouraged individuals and communities to grow trees as an alternative source of livelihood and a mitigating contribution to climate change.
“Once again the National Assembly of Zambia is the first recipient of seedlings this year through this donation of 5, 000 pine seedlings valued at 50, 000” said Nga’ndu.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly of Zambia has expressed its gratitude to ZAFFICO for the timely donation, which they believe will go a long way in preserving the country’s natural resources.
Speaking when he received the donation on behalf of the speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia Nelly Mutti, second Deputy Speaker Moses Moyo noted that trees are essential to the health of the planet which are critical to human health and wellbeing now and in the future. He said relating to the human anatomy, forests are the lands of the planet drawing bin carbon dioxide and breathing out oxygen.
He however noted that the environment has not effectively been taken care of. “A number of human activities such as Charcoal burning, mining and agriculture have been destructive to the environment as a result we have seen the negative impact of these activities through the effects of climate change” said Moyo. He noted that about a decade ago rains would be already pouring by December which is not the case now. “We are in the middle of December, but the southern part of the country is arguably yet to receive meaningful rainfall adding that this will affect agriculture production.
He said it is therefore imperative that measures are taken to correct the situation and that planting trees is one of the most effective ways of doing so. “To this end as the National Assembly of Zambia, we have committed to planting at least a thousand trees in each of the constituencies across the country” said Moyo.
He mentioned that the program has already been launched in a number of constituencies and that the National Assembly is committed to seeing that the trees being planted are natured. “With the support of ZAFFICO as demonstrated through the donation, we are certain that the correct objective will be achieved” said Moyo.
Moyo assured ZAFFICO that the members of parliament will be encouraged to sensitize their constituencies to participate in the activities of planting trees thereby contributing towards influencing the transformation of constituencies and the country at large to a greener and cleaner society. He also assured the management of ZAFFICO that the National Assembly of Zambia will nature the seedlings, and continue to partner with the organization for the noble cause.