Macroeconomic policies and forestry in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper discusses the potential impacts of macroeconomic policies on forestry in Zimbabwe. Over the period 1980 – 2001, macroeconomic policies have swung from a centrally controlled economy to a liberalized economy and back to a centrally controlled economy. In general, Zimbabwe's experience suggests that macroeconomic policies have had negative effects on forestry development. Macroeconomic policies have been implemented in a way that has led to widespread deindustrialization of core manufacturing and to the stagnation of agriculture. In addition tensions have grown in the agricultural sector when implementing land reforms. The lay-offs in the manufacturing sector have led people to seek livelihoods in the informal sector or in agriculture which has led to migration of populations to rural areas. This has placed a heavier burden on the fragile ecosystems and the already scarce natural resources in communal areas. There is therefore need to implement sound macroeconomic policies together with complementary measures in order to address difficulties in the forestry sector.



The Zimbabwe Science News Volume 36 (1+ 2) 2002, pp. 28-36