There is life in non-timber products………

Posted June 16, 2017

Trees have been celebrated for their contribution to environmental protection and the balancing of the ecosystem. Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe Trust has taken a stride to celebrate trees for their non-timber products.

Cutting down of trees does not only lead to environmental hazards like land degradation and imbalances in the ecosystem but also affects livelihoods of human and animal life. It is in this regard that Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe Trust has assisted with the planting of trees at Buwerimwe Secondary School, located deep in the lands of Manicaland Province.With the help of Agriculture teachers, Mr. Joseph Mutisi and Mr. Tafadzwa Mudefi as well as Form One and Form Two Agriculture students at the school. Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe Trust helped to plant fifty (50) trees in celebration of their non-timber products contributions .

The day saw the Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe Trust showcasing non-timber products at the school. Non-timber products are those derived from trees, without cutting the trees and are useful to human life. Such include honey, powdered baobab, madora, medicines, mushroom and jewellery from tree seeds and pods. As part of the organization’s Catch-Them-Young Project, students at Buwerimwe Secondary School were taught the importance of trees. The idea was to instil values of sustainable environmental management in students so that they grow up to be Green Ambassadors. In addition by stimulating environmental interest and stewardship in them, we hope they will share what they learn at school with their respective communities and families.

History tells us of economic and societal systems largely dependent on trees for food and batter exchange. Gathering fruit from trees, honey and mushrooms constituted the lion’s share of the pre-colonial Zimbabwe’s history and today all theses are a source of live hood. People living close to Muomba woodlands where there are a lot of Mitondo and Misasa trees have made a living out of selling mushrooms that sprouts in the area during the rainy season. Trees also have been used in traditional rituals like the Mukwerera (rain making ceremonies) and burials of the deceased under tree sheds.