1. Deforestation and Livelihoods in Rural Zimbabwe
Tyler Marshall, Global Resource Systems, Iowa State University
Introduction
Zimbabwe is suffering from environmental degradation
and economic failure. Both of these problems have had
a negative effect on the livelihoods of people living in
rural sectors of the country, such as lower living
standards, decreased overall health, economic
oppression, and misinformation on the state of the
agricultural industry and the environment throughout
the country. In addition, there is evidence to suggest
that the economy of Zimbabwe is dominated by tobacco
production.
Materials and Methods
Extensive research about the history of deforestation in
Zimbabwe has been done, as well as research on
agriculture and tobacco industries.
• Research consisted mostly of articles and books
found at Parks Library
• Separate research on Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry
• Finding the relationship between tobacco and
deforestation
• I have had personal experience with an agricultural
organization in suburban Zimbabwe, outside of the
capital city of Harare
• Direct contact with members of a small village in
rural Zimbabwe
• This community is made up of villagers that are new
to farming, so are even more uninformed on
agricultural production
• Some interview questions were sent to members of
a rural community in the town of Chinhoyi
• Some of those interviewed own small-scale farms
Findings and Results
After researching more on the state of living in rural
Zimbabwe, it is clear that livelihoods have been negatively
affected by deforestation and tobacco production.
• Since tobacco is so widely produced in Zimbabwe, many
people rely on this for their source of income
• It takes 16kg of wood to cure 1kg of tobacco
• Most Zimbabweans have no thoughts on nature and its
effect on their lives
• Agricultural production has been halted in the country,
which means high exports and high costs The real
problem is poverty, and a poor natural environment
across the country adds to it
• Results and analysis of interviews are not complete, so
should not be paid much attention until finished
Acknowledgements: Drs. Ted MacDonald, Dorothy Masinde, Richard Schultz, and Gail Nonnecke at Iowa State University, Ms. Manatt, Mr. and Mrs. Kolschosky, and Michael Sulc.
Chart of Worldwide Deforestation
List of countries most impacted by tobacco curing
Graphs of Deforestation Statistics in Zimbabwe
Deforestation
Photos of forests wiped out in rural Zimbabwe
Conclusions and Recommendations
There are practical programs in place to help rural farmers
become more aware of the importance of the environment
to their lives.
• In general, there is a lack of understanding on the
presence of the natural environment in the lives of rural
farmers, so the most important steps that can be taken
are to inform the public about the environmental
impacts of agriculture:
• Classroom-setting meetings/conferences have shown
success
• Training and learning in the field are practical
• Implementing agroforestry emphasizes importance of
integrating trees with agriculture
Literature Cited
Zimbabwe – Forest Area [Internet]. 2012. IndexMundi;
[cited 2015 October 8]. Available from: indexmundi.com.
Geist HJ. 1999. Global Assessment of Deforestation Related
to Tobacco Farming. BMJ [Internet]. Neuss, (Germany);
[cite 2015 October 8]. 8(1):18-28. Available from:
http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/8/1/18.short.
Forested land, sq. km Forested land, percentage of total land
Research Goal
The goal of this research is to find and analyze the
connection between deforestation and rural poverty,
and how Zimbabwe’s view of nature has a direct impact
on its economic downturn over the last 35 years.