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The impacts of deforestation on rural households of Zezani Communal Land in Beitbridge district of Zimbabwe

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Zimbabwe Open University, Box 346, Gwanda, Zimbabwe
  • 2Whunga Primary School, P.O. Box 21, Zezani, Beitbridge, Zimbabwe

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 12, Issue (1), Pages 14-20, January,8 (2024)

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the impact of deforestation on the rural households of Zezani Communal Land in Beitbridge district of Zimbabwe. The researchers opted for a case study using a mixed methods approach where both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used.Observations, questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect the data.This was a case study in which 51 household representatives were interviewed out of 498 households. The study revealed that most households use the forest as their major source of livelihood and that the major impact of deforestation in the area were increased distances travelled to collect firewood, increased erosion resulting in siltation of water points, reduced amounts of mopane worms, reduced number of wildlife, unavailability of herbs for the treatment of various ailments and loss of soil productivity due to erosion. Deforestation has a negative impact on the livelihoods of the Zezani community.

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