An Assessment of the Factors Responsible for the Extent of Deforestation in Mapfungautsi Forest, Zimbabwe
This study was conducted in Mapfungautsi forest to determine the extent of deforestation from the year 2000 (when no deforestation was detected by satellite imagery) up to 2020, as well as to gather perspectives from members of communities around the forest, on factors responsible for deforestatio...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | research article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SciVision Publishers
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5734 |
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| Summary: | This study was conducted in Mapfungautsi forest to determine the extent of deforestation from the year 2000
(when no deforestation was detected by satellite imagery) up to 2020, as well as to gather perspectives from
members of communities around the forest, on factors responsible for deforestation. A mixed method approach
in the form of remote sensing techniques, questionnaires and key informant interviews was used to gather data.
Findings indicated the extent of deforestation to be 4254ha (5%) and 10632ha (14%) after the first decade (2000
– 2010) and second decade (2000 – 2020) respectively. Of the cleared forest, the most affected vegetation cover
type was the wooded grassland (84%) followed by bushland (31%) and wooded land (10%) after the 20-year
period. Respondents identified political gain, expansion of jurisdictions of chiefs and population pressure as
the social factors most responsible for accelerated deforestation in Mapfungautsi. Conversely, the identified
economic factors mainly contributing to deforestation were agriculture, timber and firewood poaching. The
study concluded that agriculture was the single most impactful factor responsible for deforestation as the main
social factors (political gain and expansion of chieftaincy) worked in combination to invade and clear protected
forests for settlement and agriculture (which is also the main livelihood source of local people). Consequently,
any control measures to arrest deforestation in Mapfungautsi and any other protected forests for that matter,
will require serious buy-in and will power from political and traditional leaders and other stakeholders like
farmers and community members. |
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