THE Hwange Sanyati Biological Corridor (HSBC) project received a shot in the arm on Thursday when it received various equipment, including motor vehicles and tractors, as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
The equipment, worth more than $500 000, was sourced by World Wide Fund For Nature.
The corridor covers an area of 5,4 million hectares of land in the north-west part of the country and occupies key habitats for wildlife, livestock and more importantly people.
Environment, Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri said the thrust of the project was to interrogate community participation in natural resources management along the corridor.
“The interaction between people and the environment is not always in harmony and this has resulted in a number of environmental challenges,” Muchinguri said.
“The sharing of space in the corridor between humans and wildlife causes conflicts through destruction of crops, killing of livestock and, in the worst cases, loss of lives.”
She said the government was working towards arresting major drivers of climate change such as deforestation, veld fires, air and water pollution and illegal mining.
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Muchinguri said the HSBC project presented an opportunity to enhance natural resources management, promotion of habitat connectivity and enhance the livelihoods of communities.
The project was also expected to improve community benefits from wildlife proceeds as well as wildlife restocking in specific areas.
Meanwhile, Muchinguri said she would convene a meeting with service providers whose products lead to garbage piling on the streets such as plastic bottles and metal tins.
She said from January 1 her ministry would employ several hard-hitting measures, including deterrent jail sentences for offenders in a bid to reduce littering.
