Where are you: Home News June 1999

June 1999 Newsletter

The bark workshop  

30 persons attended the training workshop which used three species that are used for their bark to explore the methods suitable for market analysis.  From the small study area in eastern Zimbabwe, some 300,000 bundles of baobab bark are used.  Fortunately the baobab is highly resilient to bark stripping.  Another species in the study, Warbugia which is used for its medicinal properties, was found to be a high priority species for agroforestry and tree planting.  This workshop forms part of a series of courses on social and economic issues in forestry and agroforestry.  Course participants learn by doing – in the 10 day period they define a problem, collect the necessary data and write up the results.  

Ongoing Research on Governance and Institutions in the Miombo Region.  

The Institute continues to play a major role in the above mentioned research through a number of projects.  Papers currently in preparation include (Titles are provisional):  

1.  Challenges to proponents of community based management;  
2.  Where does the power lie in recent schemes to empower communities;  
3.  Scaling issues in natural resource management and;  
4.  The national framework for community based management.   

Zimbabwe Science News  

The Institute recently published a special issue of this journal with articles on:  

1. Price, L.    Farmers do plant and conserve trees in communal areas: A case study in Mutoko Commmunal Area.  
2. Chuma, E., Hagmann, H. and Gundani, O.   Supporting farmers’ land literacy; tools for learning  about soil and water conservation.  
3. Sithole, B. and Edziwa, B.    Ignorance or ignorant extension.  
4. Mukamuri, B.     Use of medicinal plants in Zimbabwe’s urban and rural areas.  
5. Heath, R. Tourism,      Conservation and sustainable development.  
6. Muza, L., Pashapa, L. and Feresu, S.     Need to revive green manuring in soil fertility management in Zimbabwe.  
7. Mapfumo, P. Legumes:    An under-utilised resource in communal areas of Zimbabwe.  
8. Frost, P.     The miombo network: causes and consequences of land-use and land-cover change in southern central and east Africa.  
9. Mandondo, A.   And just how sustainable is sustainable development?  A critique laden with  contemporary and historical ironies. 

Training Courses  

1. Planning and running short courses  

Fresh from a Malawi course, the team of resource persons will go through the essential steps required to plan and execute financially viable short courses.  Given in conjunction with Speciss Training Services.   

Fees:  Z$6000 (inclusive of course materials, teas and lunch).   
Dates and Venue:  21st – 24th  July, Mutare   

2. Using information technology in environmental outreach.  

This regional course, previously run in Botswana, introduces participants to the use of websites and meta-databases to manage and disseminate information.   Dr. G. Hapanyengwi, Mr. D. Semwayo (UZ) and an information system specialist from Denmark.   

Fees:  Z$7500 (inclusive of course materials, teas and lunch).   
Dates and Venue: 26th – 30th July, Mutare   

 3. Synergy in GIS   

Now expand your GIS experience by using the latest developments in information technology - an advanced course about linking meta- databases, internet tools and GIS.  Mr. Semwayo, Dr Hapanyengwi and Mr Matambanadzo.   

Fees:  Z$5000 (inclusive of course materials, teas and lunch)   
Dates and Venue:  23rd-27th August, Harare.   
 

4. Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment  

The 10th course on EIA facilitated by IES.  The resource persons have done more than 30 EIAs between them, been involved national and internationally in EIAs policy development and training programmes at post-graduate level, and as part of in-service training.  Mr. Mubvami, Mr Mazvimavi and Prof. Campbell.   

Fees:  Z$5000 (inclusive of course materials, field excursion, teas and lunch).   
Dates and Venue: 18th-22nd October, Harare   

Environment Discussion List  

A discussion list on Environmental issues has been set up by the Students for Environmental Action (UZ).  To subscribe to the list send a blank message to the following address:   

seadiscussion-subscribe@listbot.com.   
Subscription can also be done at the list's homepage:  http://seadiscussion.listbot.com   

If you have problems subscribing contact:   
Samson Katikiti at the following adress: katikiti@compcentre.uz.ac.zw   

Role of Universities  

Universities are uniquely equipped to lead the way in finding solutions to environmental problems.  By their special mission in teaching and training the leaders of tomorrow and by their fundamental nature as engines of knowledge, they have a major role to play.  Probably the most important contribution could be in the "greening of curricula"  by which in disciplinary curricula due attention should be given to related environmental aspects. There should be institutional commitment to ensuring that at least every graduate leaves the university with an idea of the relationship between environmental issues and his/her field of study.   If not all students learn to estimate the results of their work in the future in relation to nature and the surroundings, the chance that we will meet a sustainable future is very small.  The most urgent need is to set good examples in ongoing activities.  Starting with "greening the campus" and particularly focussing also on setting good examples in the practicals and research laboratories as well as paying due attention to choosing research topics and methods.  On the other hand the university should not only concentrate on its core business of fundamental research and education, they should also put the transmission of this knowledge to policy and decision makers, and communicating to the public on important environmental issues high on its agenda.  Its role should not be that of only warning and raising alarm but more effort should also be given to finding solutions to these problems.   

Students for Environmental Action

A legal perspective  

The past decade has shown an immense increase in the concern for environmental conservation and natural resource management in Zimbabwe.  A lot of these efforts are however failing to fully materialise due to there being an inadequate legal framework.  The government commenced an Environmental Impact Assessment policy in July 1994.  The current environmental laws are fragmented with the relevant provisions being scattered in numerous statutes.  A number of administrative bodies have been assigned to watch these laws.  The statutes do not hence ensure that environmental issues are taken into consideration and assessed together with other factors when planning on any venture.  There is an Environmental and Management bill to be presented to parliament soon. A lot has taken part in the recent year about constitutional reform and it is hoped that  soon a solution may be reached as to the constitutional reform process.  The present constitution of Zimbabwe does not contain any environmental or "green" rights provision and neither is there any specific Environmental Impact Assessment legislation.  It is hoped that the framers of the new constitution will take into account and insert a clause guaranteeing a right to a clean and decent environment.   

Mr Patrick Mpedzisi