HARARE - Veld Fires emanating from newly resettled farmers last year destroyed a total of 1 694.3 hectares of timber in Manicaland province, it has been revealed.The statistics released by the Timber Producers Federation (TPF) cited Chimanimani and Nyanga districts as the most affected areas. The TPF statistics show that between July and November last year , 257 forest fires were reported and destroyed 9 586 hectares of timber which constitutes 12 per cent of Zimbabwe’s pine population.
Pine is grown on a 25-year rotation and the area affected by the fires was equivalent to what would normally be harvested in a three year period. Fires emanating from neighbouring newly resettled areas destroyed a total of 1 694.3 hectares, with honey hunters and human negligence also contributing to the veld fires.
TPF described last year as one of the most affected in the history of timber plantations in Manicaland which is also the hub of the timber industry in the country. Illegal settlers have set up pole and dagger huts in most timber plantations in Chimanimani and Nyanga.
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