GREEN Action Trust is targeting to plant more than 6 000 trees in Matabeleland South between now and January 2016, as part of efforts to reduce the effects of deforestation, which is destroying the environment in the province, Southern Eye has learnt.

MTHANDAZO NYONI

Co-ordinator of the trust, Collin Sibanda told Southern Eye that Matabeleland South risked becoming a desert if the level of cutting
down trees was not controlled and measures put in place to address the problem.

He said trees being planted included the indigenous fruit tree umnyi (bechemia discolour).

“We chose this tree because it easily adapts to high temperatures and it doesn’t need more water.

Besides, it has got good fruit,” he said.

Sibanda said as the region was very dry, more mitigation measures needed to be put in place to address the situation.

Last year, a poisonous plant known as cactus rosea was discovered in the region.

The plant threatened to decimate livestock in the drought prone province, where it destroyed grazing land.

Green Action is a Bulawayo based environmental-social protection organisation.