Search

4.35. The regulatory framework for the forestry sector and the timber industry is based on the Forest Act (Chapter 19:05), which regulates activities on state forests and private forests, as well as trade in forestry products; and the Communal Land Forest Produce Act (Chapter 19:04), which regulates the management and utilization of forest resources on communal land and resettlement areas.

4.36. Zimbabwe's forests cover about 21.8 million ha, or 45% of the land area, comprising indigenous forests (about 829,000 ha); plantations; and woodlands, bush land and wooded grasslands.

4.37. The Forest Act distinguishes between: (i) listed ("gazetted") forests, which are state-owned and managed by the Forest Commission with the aim of conserving biodiversity; (ii) protected forests, which belong by tradition to local communities or fall under the national parks; and (iii) forests for permanent exploitation (plantations by private companies). Under S.I. 116 of 2012, Zimbabwe prohibits the harvesting of 12 protected forest species: teak, mukwa, mchibi, pod mahogany, wooden banana, mopane, msasa, white syringa, munhondo, red mahogany, marula, and ebony.

4.38. The forestry sector is managed by the Forestry Commission, a parastatal under the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality. (...) it is funded by fees. (...) The Commission's mandate covers, inter alia, the regulation of trade in timber and forestry products, including firewood; and the sustainable management of Zimbabwe's forests. The main challenges in forestry management are deforestation due to land clearance for agriculture, and over-exploitation of trees for fuel wood, aggravated by the electricity shortage.. Deforestation is driven also by uncontrolled fires; overgrazing and elephant damage; and illegal harvesting for wood curio carvings.

4.39. Zimbabwe (...) is a signatory to the SADC Protocol on Forestry. The Protocol applies to all activities relating to the development, conservation, sustainable management, and utilization of all types of forests and trees, and trade in forest products within the SADC region.

4.42. Timber concession agreements for selected cutting in listed forests are signed between the Forestry Commission, the concessionaire and/or the local authority to regulate the timber exploitation process. Timber concessions (for a renewable term of five years) are awarded through the Forestry Commission Internal Tender Committee, and the process is guided by provisions in the Procurement Act and its statutory instruments (...).

4.44. Zimbabwe maintains a ban on exports of unprocessed or semi-processed indigenous hardwoods (S.I. 112 of 2001 ), aimed at promoting the beneficiation of sawn timber in the country. For exports of processed timber and wood products, an export permit is required, and is issued by the District Forest Extension Officer (Section 14 of the Forest Act). The permit may be refused on the grounds, inter alia, that the consignment involves exports of timber in contravention of S.I. 112 of 2001; that there is a general shortage of timber in the country; or for sustainability or phytosanitary reasons. (...)

4.54. Zimbabwe's mining fees and charges were last revised in 2016 and, since June 2019, are payable in the local currency. Fees include an environment fee of 2% of gross revenues. New projects require an environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA fees range from 0.8% to 1.2% of the project cost, depending on the environmental impact, with the costs including only components that affect the environment. (...)

4.71. The ZERA has the mandate to create an enabling environment for competition, and promote an efficient energy supply industry. It is responsible for preparing a pricing methodology (...) Electricity tariffs must be set to recover full costs, with a view to phasing out, or substantially reducing, cross subsidies (...)

4.19. The Government introduced the Making Indonesia 4.0 initiative, a road map to develop Indonesia's manufacturing sector following industrial practices characterized under the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) concept. (...) The Making Indonesia 4.0 road map contains 10 national initiatives, all geared to accelerate the development of the manufacturing industry in Indonesia. These initiatives include:(...) to accommodate sustainability standards; to empower MSMEs; (...)