Zambezi 2000 - and onward
A report on the state of the environment in the Zambezi basin, which is shared by eight countries in the Southern African Region, has just been released by the Zambian government, in conjunction with the Southern African Research Development Centre (SARDC).
The report, called "State of the Environment in the Zambezi Basin Report 2000", reveals serious environmental degradation in the basin caused by increased pressure on natural resources resulting from rapid population growth and rising poverty levels in many southern African countries.
The report, compiled by environmentalists, academics, and government specialist staff, marks the first time that an assessment of a single eco-system has been undertaken and reported upon in southern Africa. Although state of the environment reporting in southern Africa is relatively new, the traditional approach has been to focus on boundaries, natural resources or sectors in a national context. This report breaks new ground showing the region's acknowledgement of the importance of eco-system management in the efforts of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, which are aimed at sustainable development and regional development.
In a foreword to the report, Mozambican President, Joachim Chissano, who is also SADC Chairman, says "The Zambezi basin, which is home to close to 40 million people, perhaps represents the best of what we have in SADC in terms of natural capital. Within the basin's large expanse we have our water resources, land and soils, forests and wildlife. All these activities define our economic activities, which range from agriculture and forestry, manufacturing and mining to conservation and tourism, scientific monitoring and research."
The report on the state of the environment in the Zambezi basin has cheered many people involved in agriculture and environment management. Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society Zambia Chapter Executive Director Mwape Sichilongo says, "Education relies on experience and information and, when it is as diverse as it is in this report, which covers all aspects of environment and agriculture, then it covers the whole idea of holistic education where you look at the environment exactly as it is in all its facets, uses and problems. So, the presence of this report will help us access all the relevant information on environment and agriculture at once rather than in bits and pieces. We hope that this report will be widely available not only in libraries but also in the streets for every SADC citizen to access. The report should be available in more languages than just English and Portuguese."
At the launch of the report however, despite its relevance, only forty copies were available for distribution to the public but the Environmental Council of Zambia has promised to make more copies available.
Article submitted by Daniel Sikazwe, freelance journalist, Zambia
