There are various Governmental and non-governmental agencies responsible for the management of land resources in Zimbabwe. Land degradation is one of the major environmental problems especially in communal areas. The Government has put into place programmes to improve the planning and management of land resources.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) currently has an interim Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) policy, introduced in 1994, which ensures that the potential and known ecological, cultural, social and economic impacts resulting from land and water use are minimized or eliminated. The EIA programme continues to evolve into an integrated network of programmes that work in support of an ecosystem approach to management, as well as develop Environmental Operating Guidelines for the various sectors. The MET is drafting a consolidated and effective new Environmental Management Act to clarify its mandate and co-ordinate the responsibilities of all agencies, the private sector and communities so as to ensure the best possible land use and management of land resources. Included in the current information on management systems is the State of Environmental Reporting and Environmental monitoring.

In 1996, the MLGRUD introduced a nation-wide capacity-building programme for Rural District Councils (RDC) following the 8 pilot district project. The 5-year national programme increases local authorities' capacity in terms of manpower, institution building and human resources development. The process empowers local authorities to make policies, plan and manage resources and take effective action at the local level, based on locally driven approaches.

The MET has spearheaded various initiatives, programmes and services designed for sustainable planning and management of land resources. The District Environmental Action Planning (DEAP) programme, under implementation by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the MLGRUD, and NGOs, is a locally-based initiative which uses horizontal communication systems and empowers grassroots communities in planning and decision making regarding their human and natural resource needs. The Ministry of Agriculture, through its department Agritex, provides land capability (or suitability) classification for land use plans at farm, village, communal, district and regional levels. This allows farmers and communities to make informed decisions on sustainable, viable and optimum land use systems. Land use plans take account of social, cultural, ecological, and economic issues.

The MET is setting up a national sustainable development data base for Zimbabwe, which will be in time series, consisting of national level indicators, such as economic, social and environmental development. The data will be used by researchers; it will feed into the National State of the Environment reporting process which is also coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Twelve agencies comprise the working committee allowing exchange of information. Zimbabwe currently has a vegetation and mapping system (VEGRIS) in the Forestry Commission for vegetation monitoring and mapping. The DNR has set up an integrated resource management information system (IRIS) as a management tool for describing and assessing Zimbabwe's natural resources. The Department of the Surveyor General produces maps and other related information which are available for use by various Departments.

Deforestation is one of the major environmental problems facing Zimbabwe. About 70,000 to 100,000 ha of forest is cleared every year and the forest cover is estimated to be declining at a rate of 1.5% per year (UNDP, 1997). The main causes of deforestation include increasing demand for land for agricultural development and dependence on wood as fuel in the rural areas. Deforestation has caused land degradation and siltation of rivers and dams. A large amount of biodiversity has also been lost and so has the socio-cultural role of forests. The loss of forests is somehow linked to the growing poverty in the rural areas.

Programmes to Combat Deforestation

Zimbabwe has drafted a National Strategy for the sustainable management of forests and the following programmes have been put into place to address the problem of deforestation:
1. Improved environmentally sound harvesting practices.
2. Afforestation programmes.
3. Increased agroforestry activities.
4. Promotion of non-consumptive use of forest resources.
5. Value added secondary processing of forest products were explored at the community level.
6. Increasing the capacity of the Forestry Commission in monitoring deforestation and changes in the vegetation cover.
7. The Schools and Colleges Tree Growing and Tree Care Programme was implemented in 1992/93 as part of the National Tree Planting Programme. Significant impact on reforestation was achieved, justifying the programme's integration in 1995/96 into the Forestry Extension Services Division of the Forest Commission in order to sustain its successful activities.
8. There was an increase in tree seedling production from 4.5 million in 1992, with 74% raised at the community, to 7 million in 1994, with 80% produced at community based nurseries, in line with the strategy to decentralize this activity and to involve communities in reforestation.
9. Another relevant initiative is the formation of an NGO-based working group on woodlands. This group is a think-tank of four NGOs, the SAFIRE, the ENDA, the Biomass User's Network and ZERO, who meet periodically to discuss woodland management issues in Zimbabwe. One of their activities has been to hold consultations to formulate a woodland management policy for the country.

Despite these programmes, the rate of deforestation continues to exceed afforestation efforts. The Government has realized the need to adopt a more integrated approach to resource management using participatory methodologies which the DEAP project is elaborating . There is also the need for more investment into affordable alternative energy sources in order to reduce rural communities' dependency on fuelwood.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), through the Forestry Commission, a parastatal which is the lead implementing agency of the Forestry Act, is responsible for the forestry sector. The Department of Parks and Wildlife Management, the Natural Resource Board, and the Department of Natural Resources, under the MET, through the provisions of the Natural Resources Act, the Communal Lands Forest Produce Act and the Parks and Wildlife Act, contribute towards the sustainable utilization and management of Natural Resources, including forests. Rural District Councils are responsible for land use planning and utilization of forest resources at the district level. The Strategic Directions, formulated by the MET in 1996, represent a holistic approach to the implementation of environmental policies integrating the statutory land based institutions of all its departments, parastatals, boards and authorities.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The Forestry Commission invests in post graduate staff development programmes to meet needs as they arise. Nineteen diploma course students graduate every year from the Zimbabwe College of Forestry of the FC, and the Forestry Industry Training Center has also increased its output from 21 in 1992/93 to an enrolment of 62 students in 1995.

3. Major Groups: Local communities, grassroots institutions, local government institutions, private farmers, farmer organizations, NGOs, private plantation owners, concessionaires, women, youth and children.

4. Finance: The government's grant for development activities has declined in real terms. The commercial operations are profitable.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Zimbabwe is a signatory of the Earth Charter and subscribes to the principles of Agenda 21 and related conventions, such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The Government also participates on the Ad hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests.

Zimbabwe cooperates with international institutions in order to improve its plantation productivity and broaden the genetic base of important exotic species. The Forestry Commission has benefited from its membership in the Central America and Mexico Coniferous Resources Cooperative. In addition, through the coordinating activities of the Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe will host, in 1997, the 15th Commonwealth Forestry Conference whose theme will be "Forestry in a changing political environment; challenges for the 21st century." The Zimbabwe College of Forestry is accessible to regional students, mostly from other SADCC countries.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

Encroaching desertification and land degradation are major environmental concerns in Zimbabwe. A 1993 survey showed that about 10% of the land is moderately to extensively eroded, with 23% of the communal areas showing significant erosion. Despite the fact that only 25% of the land in Zimbabwe is suitable for agricultural use, due to poverty and the lack of alternative livelihoods, people continue to exploit limited natural resources for their survival. Consequently, water scarcity and drought are affecting a significant portion of the country.

In 1994 Zimbabwe signed the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) initiated at the Earth Summit in Rio. The process to ratify the Convention is underway. Zimbabwe is a Party to both the Climate Change and the Biodiversity Conventions. Zimbabwe's commitment to the implementation of anti-desertification and drought mitigation activities, with the effective participation of communities, goes back to 1987 when Zimbabwe took the initiative of designing a National Conservation Strategy. In 1995 the Desertification Convention National Awareness Workshop was held with the participation of all stakeholders. In addition, Zimbabwe has undertaken the following activities in the context of the Convention to Combat Desertification:

I. Awareness raising campaign, promoted by an interim committee, the forerunner of a permanent task force on Desertification spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

ii. Compilation of a work plan summary and background information papers for the development of the National Action Plan.

iii. Consultation processes to establish a National Desertification Fund.

iv. A National Workshop was convened, in 1995, to develop a Desert Margins Initiative (DDI) Strategy and to identify a specific objective for Zimbabwe focusing on policies, research and technology transfer programmes for dry land natural resource management systems.

The implementation, in 1993, of the District Environmental Action Planning Programme (DEAP) in four pilot districts, as a follow up response to the 1992 Agenda 21, provides an opportunity to implement initiatives relating to the CCD, the Climate Change and the Biodiversity Conventions through participatory approaches.

The Government is currently implementing programmes to address land degradation, such as: gully rehabilitation, extension and training, grazing schemes, conservation tillage, mechanical conservation, biological conservation, woodlot programme consolidated gardens, protection and conservation of wetland, sponges and springs; awareness and enforcement through the Natural Resources Act.

Drought monitoring and mitigation

Zimbabwe suffers from severe droughts; the worst and most recent one experienced in 1992. In order to monitor and mitigate the effects of drought, the following programmes and activities have been undertaken:

1. Food Security and Early Warning Project, which covers SADC.

2. Establishment of a drought monitoring center.

3. Food Reserves Programme to improve food holding capacity and technology.

4. Zimbabwe adopted a policy of building a medium size dam per district per year, a target which has not been achieved. A more successful initiative, started in 1993 in partnership with the private sector, NGOs, and donors and administered by local authorities, is the "Give a Dam Programme" in which organizations assist communities to construct small dams.

5. Drought relief through food distribution, borehole drilling and drought recovery programmes consisting of seed and fertilizer packs alleviate the impact of drought on poor households.

Mountain pilot project initiatives were implemented by the government in 1988, 1989, and 1992 for biodiversity conservation. The Mapembe Mountain has been declared a protected area under the Natural Resources Act. What is unique about the Mapembe Mountain Conservation Project is that local communities requested the Natural Resources Board to protect the mountain environment as a conservation area; in turn protecting the cultural value of the mountain. This project is community based with full participation in the protection of the mountain ecosystem, both for ecological and cultural reasons.

The Hwedza Mountain Project is still in the planning stage. Delays in implementation have occurred because the request did not come from the local communities but from the Hwedza Intensive Conservation Area committee.

Special area programmes, such as the mid-Zambezi Valley, have had strategic plans designed for easier inter sectoral coordination for sustainable rural development purposes. ARDA, a parastatal, has the mandate to implement agricultural and rural development programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of small scale farmers. Some of its most prominent programmes include: the Integrated Rural Development Programme in Masvingo, the Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Project in Mashonaland East, and the Small Scale Coffee and Fruit Growers Programme in Eastern Highlands. In all these programmes issues of conservation, economic and social impact are incorporated and closely monitored. Since 1992 Agritex, the agricultural extension department, and most extension organizations have re-oriented extension and programme approach to include diagnostic surveys, participatory rural appraisal, and farming systems approach to improve communication and interface with farmers.

Sustainable Rural Development Programmes

Although Zimbabwe has initiated some successful rural development programmes, more needs to be accomplished in this area. Some examples include the following:

1. The Department of Energy has developed programmes to identify alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind and badges. The GEF Solar Photovoltaic Project for rural households and community use in Zimbabwe was implemented in 1993 with the objective of installing 9000 systems in rural areas, as a pilot project. By 1996, 6000 systems had been installed.

2. A rural electrification programme was introduced in 1985, however, due to financial limitations it has not realized the desired goals.

3. Fuel-saving stoves and alternative sources of energy have been developed to alleviate shortages of energy in rural areas and help combat land degradation.

4. The CAMPFIRE programme has been established to promote rural development by allowing communities to benefit from sustainable utilization of wildlife resources.

The mechanism for in situ conservation is through the establishment of protected areas. These cover 13% of the country and were established under the Parks and Wildlife Act. They include Parks and Wildlife state land, Botanical Reserves and Gardens. In addition, commercial forest covers 2%. Statutory provision for the protection of listed threatened species is applied where human activities prevent the recovery of their population. Zimbabwe has a programme for promoting the recovery of threatened species from the endangered list. The Parks and Wildlife Act provisions control the introduction of exotic species. The National Herbarium of the Ministry of Agriculture houses a quarter of a million dried specimens representing plant biological diversity within Zimbabwe. The garden includes ecological units representing all major types of vegetation in Zimbabwe with over 1 000 tree and shrub species collected from all parts of the country represented in forms of naturally occurring plant association with the long term objective of creating replicas of indigenous vegetation. Information on indigenous trees used by herbalists is compiled. The Forestry Commission has a herbarium at Chirinda Forest as well as a number of gene banks. The gene bank for agricultural crops and their wild varieties in Zimbabwe is under the Crop Breeding Institute of the Department of Research and Specialist Services.

Mechanisms for promoting the sustainable use of biological biodiversity include an enabling legislative framework which promotes the sustainable use of renewable biological resources. User rights to forest and land resources belonging to the Government have been decentralized to Rural District Councils. The Parks and Wildlife Act gives full rights to land owners to fully utilize and benefit from resources on private properties. Economic benefits accrued from wildlife marketing are more attractive than from agricultural land use systems encouraging conservation of wildlife habitats. The Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) has focused on the development of local institutions for the management and sustainable utilization of communal wildlife resources, enabling communities and families to benefit economically from wildlife in their areas. CAMPFIRE is being applied to inshore fisheries in Lake Kariba and to the management of indigenous forestry resources in Mutoko District.

The DNR implemented a programme of protected areas with the objective of conserving biodiversity specifically in unique ecosystems, such as those containing remnant species in the region which are now under threat. The programme incorporates the goals and needs of the community and there is a total of twenty two sites. The Mapembe Forest project, implemented in 1992, has a public participation component attaching value to biodiversity for the multiple purpose of species, including economic, medicinal, and cultural. The community is empowered in terms of access to the resources and benefits accruing. Local knowledge systems in terms of management and use of different species for medicinal and traditional ceremonies is also incorporated. The 22 other sites do not include public participation, although Wedza Mountain and Nyachowa Falls have an element of consultation and participation by locals.

Rehabilitation and reclamation programmes incorporate biodiversity principles such as localized gully reclamation and catchment area rehabilitation, the most outstanding being the Save which incorporates eleven Rural District Councils. Other biodiversity conservation projects include the Botanical Garden's Project and the Guruve North Biodiversity project. Despite these effort, Zimbabwe is still losing its biological diversity through deforestation and land degradation and it is hoped that the current inventories and action programmes under the Biodiversity Convention may assist in solving the problem of biodiversity loss.

The Institute is carrying out research in the following core areas:

a) Basic molecular biotechnology;
b) Agricultural biotechnology;
c) Medical biotechnology;
d) Industrial biotechnology; and
e) Environmental biotechnology.

Under environmental biotechnology, issues regarding biosafety and environmentally sound management of biotechnology are considered. The Biotechnology Research Institute offers special services on biosafety issues to the southern Africa sub-region by drafting and implementing guidelines and regulations and providing technical assistance in environmental protection, risk assessment and risk management. The institute also offers services in genetic resources and biodiversity conservation and acts as a watchdog against bioprospecting, biopiracy, and intellectual property loss, both at the national and sub-regional levels. Each country in the sub-region is expected to form a national biosafety committee which Zimbabwe has already done.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Zimbabwe ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is considering signing the International Maritime Organization's Treaty and is a party to the protocols under the African Maritime Charter. At the regional level, Zimbabwe is a member of the Port Management Authority for Eastern and Southern Africa which opens dialogue between landlocked countries and coastal states with provisions to harmonize tariffs and management systems and promote information dissemination.

1. the institutional development and legal framework.

2. the water resources management strategy project.

The specific objectives of the water resources management strategy project are the following:

1. to recommend required legislative reforms to review the Water Act and the institutional framework;

2. to produce guidelines on the equitable allocation of water, quantification of total water resources, demand, management and increased water use and efficiency in all user sectors;

3. to develop guidelines for investment in the water sector;

4. to guide the process of selecting and adopting a pricing policy and strategy;

5. to produce guidelines on catchment planning and facilitate the development of two pilot catchment developments in Mazowe and Mupfure;

6. to facilitate stakeholder participation, publicize and disseminate information;

7. to facilitate capacity building in the Department of Water Resources; and

8. to produce guidelines on environmental management, recommending policy changes on water pollution and effluent discharge.

Water Supply

As a land locked country without natural lakes, Zimbabwe's water supply is based on water harvesting and use of groundwater resources. There are currently more than 800 large dams in Zimbabwe. In order to increase water supply, mainly for irrigation, the government plans to build one medium size dam per district under the Give-a-Dam project. The government also plans to build additional large dams, irrigation systems, water supply schemes and drill boreholes and wells. To ensure sustainability in communal areas, local people will be trained in how to maintain the water supply equipment and will be actively involved in the operation of water supply. The objective is to ensure that nobody in rural areas will have to walk more than 3 kms to the nearest drinking water point (mainly boreholes). Although many boreholes have been drilled under this programme, the problem is they often dry up as a result of drought and the lack of funds and spare parts to maintain the pumps.

Water Quality

The Natural Resources Act provides for the monitoring of water quality and pollution and catchment protection in order to reduce siltation. It established the Water Pollution Control Unit, which is responsible for the day to day monitoring of water quality. The proposed Environmental Management Act will set the standards for water quality which will form the basis for monitoring.

The Hazardous Substances and Articles Control Act also calls for the safe disposal of toxic chemicals and containers used for these chemicals. The Hazardous Substances Control Unit has limited capacity to monitor the use of toxic chemicals. The Unit is currently developing codes of practice for chemical use and disposal.

There have been programmes to strengthen collaboration between the government and the private sector in the areas of agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, and their impacts on the environment. The environmental law reform which is underway will include standards and guidelines in the area of toxic chemicals, particularly those on safe use and disposal.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

The Basel Convention was signed in 1992 and has not been ratified yet.

The Bamako Convention was ratified in 1993.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

No report has been provided to the Basel Convention Secretariat as the Government is not yet a party to the Convention. The control of hazardous substances use and disposal is regulated by the Hazardous Substances and Articles Control Act administered by the Ministry of Health. Since Rio the following activities have been carried out:

- the enforcement of existing legislation has been strengthened;

- a radiation protection services department has been established;
- a Hazardous Substances Control Advisory Board has been instituted and various sub-committees formed; and
- hazardous waste management regulations have been introduced and national guidelines for the disposal of hazardous waste developed for local authorities.

The programmes carried out as a result of the requirements of the Hazardous Substance and Articles Act include:

1. Encouraging the industrial sector to treat, recycle, re-use and dispose of hazardous wastes at the source of generation, when its generation is unavoidable and when it is economically and environmentally efficient. This is being done through meetings of the Industrial Chemicals Association.

2. Development of draft regulations, currently being reviewed, by the Hazardous Substance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare which lay down the responsibility of industries for environmentally sound disposal of hazardous wastes generated by their activities.

3. Development of draft guidelines and methodologies for the characterization and classification by the Hazardous Substance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. These are currently being reviewed.

4. Development of draft legislation to prevent the illegal import and export of wastes. The legislation is currently being developed.

with the exception of Harare, solid wastes are not sorted according to the type of wastes;

the pollution from leachates is not properly understood; and

the impact on ground water has not been analyzed.

The Government developed guidelines in 1994 for industrial waste management, including solid wastes and sewage. The main objective of the guidelines is to help local authorities and waste generating companies to improve waste management systems so that negative effects on the environment are minimized.

The management of sewage related issues is conducted through the use of the Water regulations of 1977 -Effluent and Water Standards- contained in the Water Act. The Water Resources Management Strategy Project, under the Water Sector Reform Programme launched by the Ministry of Lands and Water in 1993, is addressing the possible policy changes regarding water pollution and effluent discharges. In addition, in 1996 the Ministry of Environment and Tourism commissioned a study to review environmental standards, including effluent and water standards. The findings of the study will be used as an input in the ongoing process to develop new environmental legislation. There are programmes in which sewage is recycled and used for agriculture.

The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is responsible for the management of wastes. A radiation protection services committee has been formed, under the Hazardous Substances Advisory Board, to coordinate the control and management of radioactive wastes. Zimbabwe is an active member of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The Government has budgetary allocations to respond to Agenda 21, with the largest part of the budget going to the improvement of social services. At present social expenditure in health and education alone account for over 20% of the budget. The budget of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, which is being reviewed so the Ministry can effectively implement Agenda 21 initiatives, shows commitment on the part of Government.

NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS: The following economic instruments have been introduced:
1. ESAP - line of credit, retooling and retrofitting have been introduced;
2. Vision 2020 has introduced the concept of green taxes;
3. ISO 9 000 and ISO 14 000 has imposed some trade restrictions on timber exports.

Subsidies: Subsidies have been eliminated on some farm inputs and on electricity. Proper pricing of fossil fuels have made alternative fuels more competitive. Water pricing is still a problem.

Zimbabwe is a recipient country.

The level of technological development is low; it is consequently more prone to technological dependence. The low rate of technological change implies a sluggish transition towards the use of environmentally sound technologies. Problems are created by declining import capacity due to the economic crisis and the decline in foreign investment. There is a need for government induced policies to stimulate rapid technological development and acquisition. To be effective such policies must be comprehensive and address all functional sectors of society. In most countries, including Zimbabwe, incentives for technological development have often been implicit and mediated through investment incentives for industry . They have so far favoured the inflow of large scale capital-intensive investments with little consideration for technological development. In the national environmental assessment policy there is no consideration for the need to assess technologies. Studies have shown that countries which develop a strong internal capacity to search out and evaluate technologies are usually able to acquire the technologies on satisfactory terms.

In Zimbabwe, the Scientific and Industrial Research Development Center (SIRDC) has for a number of years been operating a Technological Information Promotion System (TIPS), as part of an international network dealing with trade, technology, and investment opportunities. The objective of this information system is to facilitate the exchange of information about technologies developed or available for use in the various sectors of the economy, at a regional and local level. The information system was established following the convening of two UN Conferences on Science and Technology, held in 1978 and 1979, where the need to create markets for technologies developed in developing countries and promote technology transfer was emphasized. The TIPs framework has expanded from 9 countries (1986-1988) to more than 30 national bureaux, and Zimbabwe has remained a key participant. At the national level, TIPs offers a bulletin board system which permits local industries to consult the database and download information with a local phone call. TIPS also has a homepage in the World Wide Web, which offers information on the TIPs network and its services. There are no technology restrictions on what can be ordered into the country or standards that must be adhered to.

A notable institutional development in Zimbabwe has been the creation of SIRDC and its seven constituent institutes, namely: the Biotechnology Research Institute; the Building Technology Institute; the Energy and Technology Institute; the Environment and Remote Sensing Institute; the Mechanical and Production Engineering Institute; the Microelectronics and Electronics institute; and the National Meteorology Institute. The mission of SIRDC, through these various institutes, is to provide a center of excellence in research for the provision of science and technology leadership to the industrial sectors.

The Cleaner Production Center and the Ozone Office are an opportunity for the transfer of environmentally sound technologies. Another opportunity is through the programme on Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ), which is still under discussion between government and the private sector. There is a lot of scope for improvement in the transfer of environmentally sound technology, particularly from developed countries.

The National Response Conference encourages research that provides policy support to the government through rigorous analysis of policy options for environmental management. It also noted the need for science to provide research data on scientific assessments of environmental phenomenon. In response to these needs, the Research Council drafted a National Science and Technology Policy following consultations with relevant agencies. The policy document has been circulated to relevant organizations for comments but is not yet finalized.

Following the Rio Summit, the government organized a national workshop to identify research needs for the implementation of Agenda 21 and to assess the possible role of universities in the field of environment and development. The meeting also discussed the establishment of the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) at the University of Zimbabwe. The proposal for the establishment of the institute was discussed at the workshop. The role of the IES is the following:

- to promote, facilitate and, where needed, coordinate research on environmental issues, thereby enhancing the national capacity to tackle national environmental problems and to contribute to the resolution of regional and global problems;
- to provide expert advice to policy makers and planners dealing with environmental issues, thereby increasing Zimbabwe's capacity to plan and implement environmentally sustainable development policies, programmes and activities; and
- to promote awareness of the environment through teaching and information dissemination, thereby contributing to better informed and more effective public participation in decision making on environmental and sustainable development issues.

The institute coordinates research in the University and serves as an independent catalyst for action outside the university through the provision of a forum for discussion, analysis of and cooperation and advice on environmental issues. The institute maintains a register of experts on different environmental matters.

The government requires support in strengthening the scientific base to support sustainable development. Strengthening institutions such as Universities and government research centres (SIRDC and the Research Council of Zimbabwe ) will go a long way in developing a strong scientific base for sustainable development.

Reorientation of education towards sustainable development: The Southern African Regional Institute for Policy Studies (SARIPS), an arm of the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust has launched a Masters programme in Policy Studies. The course is accredited to the Universities of Zimbabwe, Fort Hare and Dar Es Salaam. The goal of the course is to enhance the policy making capacities and leadership roles of senior personnel in government and non-governmental organizations. The course offers professionals an opportunity to acquire new analytical and practical skills and to widen their understanding of the policy process. The programme was launched in September 1995 and offers the following courses: I) policy analysis framework;

ii) economic theory and development planning; iii) regional economic cooperation and integration;

iv) gender policy and planning; iv) sectoral economic policy; v) politics and governance;

vi) international relations; vii) social policy; and viii) environmental policy. Lecturers are drawn from the region.

Increasing public awareness: Various ministries, NGOs and other organizations are involved in programmes to educate and promote environmental awareness at the grassroots. Several departments in the government have extension departments through which information is disseminated to the communities. Of these, some have officers operating at the district level while others have village based extension personnel. Information is disseminated in various forms including workshops, short training programmes, seminars, village meetings, household visits, and the media. This dissemination is undertaken by numerous institutions and includes traditional environmental conservation practices.

The Government runs an extension programme which includes workshops, training courses for village leaders, mobile environmental programmes and village awareness campaigns. Since Independence there has been a concerted effort to promote methods of education and awareness that do not impose conservation on communities. Consequently, extension has become more participatory, drawing on traditional experiences of conservation and dissemination of these to wider audience. Many departments, such as the Forestry Commission, now acknowledge the value of traditional practices in forestry conservation and promote these widely. An appreciation of the role and contributions that communities can make to conservation has resulted in proposals to develop initiatives for resource sharing where the government and the community are equal partners in resource management.

Promoting training: In many schools in Zimbabwe environmental science is a subject offered in the primary school curriculum. This subject is in essence environmental education. In secondary schools this subject gives way to geography and agriculture, which again comprise environmental education. Students are also exposed to practical environmental education through school projects and inter-schools competition which promotes various aspects of conservation. There is of course a strong element of non-formal environmental education training as children grow up, particularly those who grow up in communal areas. Many studies, especially those documenting traditional practices, recognize the value of children and youth as repositories of environmental information.

Role of Major Groups: An environmental education subcommittee was established in 1995 as part of the Environmental Liaison Forum in Zimbabwe. The forum and subcommittee consist of representatives of non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the government. In addition to its activity in the country, the committee has actively participated in regional and international networks and conferences, such as the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication. The committee has organized and implemented two national workshops in Zimbabwe, sponsored by UNESCO/UNEP. The committee, along with other organizations, is working towards the development of a national policy on environmental education but limited government resources and staff have hampered this effort. In addition to the foregoing, the following programmes are noteworthy.

Radio Programmes:
Environment 2000
Forestry Commission
Natural Resources Board
Natural Farming Network

Communication and Networks:
Environmental Liaison Forum Subcommittee - Action Trust Regional Net
Forum of Environmental communicators - US Peace Corps
IMERSEC - Natural Farming Network
ART - Silveira House
Environment 2000 - ORAP

International Representations:
IUCN - Commission on Education and Communication
EEASA
NAAEE

Capacity building has taken various forms and targeted professionals in the relevant ministries and NGOs. Capacity building has been mostly in the form of short term training programmes though several individuals have been sent to higher education institutions to attain degrees in subjects relevant to the environment. In some instances it has resulted in the creation of new institutions and the strengthening of existing ones. This section lists some of the courses offered in an effort to build national capacity to respond to environmental issues.

Zimbabwe Natural Resources Management Programme: The Zimbabwe Natural Resources Management Programme (ZNRMP) is a capacity building project in environmental planning and policy coordination, integrated resources information system, information management, and law reforms. Within the programme there have been many opportunities for training of Ministry of Environment and Tourism staff and staff from other organizations in such areas as project appraisal, project management, economics, environmental impact assessment, information management and communication skills. Graduate education has been offered at the University of Zimbabwe and at various universities in Canada.

MET/World Bank Workshops for Decision Makers: Two workshops for decision makers have been conducted on political economy of the environment. Both workshops were part of a capacity building programme in environmental economics and policy planning. The principal objective of these workshops was to enhance the analytical capacity of participants from the public and private sectors, including academic leaders, parliamentarians, consultants, and NGO managers, to incorporate environmental concerns in the application of micro and macro economics during policy formulation, planning, and investment decisions for sustainable development. Due to an overwhelming demand for similar courses, there are plans to hold future workshops targeting specific groups of decision makers especially parliamentarians.

Campfire: The CAMPFIRE programme aims at building capacity for the sustainable management of natural resources at the community level through a participatory approach.

Waste management and pollution: Officers in the Department of Natural Resources have participated in two pilot projects on waste management and industrial pollution measurement. These pilot projects have resulted in the development of waste management guidelines and are being expanded into other urban areas.

International cooperation in capacity building: The ZACPLAN project is a SAC project aimed at building capacity for the management of international waters. It involves the harmonization of policies, regulations, and institutional development for the management of shared water resources.

The UNDP coordinates the activities of donors through a roundtable where donors and government representatives discuss ongoing projects and funding requirements. Capacity building is a key area of donor support.