Wood has been a source of energy globally since time immemorial. Forests which traditionally provided firewood have been “stripped naked” by people who indiscriminately cut down trees and do not bother to replace them.
Heavy extraction coupled with the increasing agricultural activities also threaten natural forests, which for long has been the source of firewood.
The coming in of plantation forests and other forms of energy brought a reprieve to the forests around the globe.
However, pressure on wood has remained high in third world nations because of alternative energy shortages and increasing population.
Increased agricultural activities and electricity shortages have also put more pressure on the country’s forests.
Zimbabwe’s forests have not been spared from the direct attack of the human energy and development needs.
The 2012 Census National Report confirms that 63 percent of Zimbabwe’s population relies on wood as the main source of energy for cooking and heating purposes.
This is a sad development if current efforts to conserve our natural environment are anything to go by.
According to the Census report, only 31 percent use electricity, a measly two percent opt for paraffin and less than one percent of the households use gas, coal and other forms of energy.
“Except for Harare and Bulawayo, the rest of the provinces had high proportions of households, almost 70 percent, using wood for cooking,” explained the report.
Mashonaland Central had 84,6, Mashonaland East 79,5, Mashonaland West 69,1, Matebeleland North 78,4, Matebeleland South 78,7, Midlands 70, 4, Manicaland 81,3 and Masvingo 82,2 percent people using wood.
While Zimbabwe has great potential in methane gas, coal and charcoal, the country has unfortunately failed to develop the energies hence the over-reliance on wood for domestic heating.
Environmentalists say this is unfortunate for a country seeking to reduce environmental destruction.
