ZAMBIA

Zambian forests are being threatened due to the large-scale exploitation of their resources for fuelwood. Though Zambia is a major producer of electricity, only seven per cent of Zambian homes are electrified -- most of the energy generated is exported. As a result, most households use fuelwood for fulfilling their energy requirements.

Green Living Movement (glm), an environmental pressure group, has requested the Zambian government to modernise its forestry policy and to include women groups, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in this process. "Zambia's forestry policy enacted in 1949 and amended in 1965 is outdated and has failed to reflect the concerns of today's degrading situation in the forestry sector of the country," said Singy Hanyona, glm Information and publicity coordinator.