The report covers the status of major vegetation types and conservation of forest genetic resources in Zimbabwe. All vegetation types are still fairly intact with vegetation cover being over 66 percent. The timber industry contributes about 3 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and this is mainly from plantations of exotic species. The major exotic species are Pinus patula, Pinus taeda, Pinus elliottii, Pinus kesiya, Eucalyptus grandis and E. cloeziana. A breeding programme that combines genetic improvement and gene conservation is in place for all industrial species.
The indigenous tree species (Pterocarpus angolensis, Baikiaea plurijuga, Guibortia coleosperma, Afzelia quanzensis, Kirkia acuminata, Entandophragma caudatum) are mainly used for high value furniture and carving. Other indigenous species of social and economic importance include fruit trees (Sclerocarya birrea, Uapaca kirkiana, Strychnos cocculoides, Vangueria infausta, Berchemia discolor, Adonsonia digitata, Parinari curetillifolia), as well as browse and fodder species (Colophospermum mopane, Acacia erioloba, Acacia albida). Four species, with a fairly restricted distribution, have been identified as under moderate to severe threat of extinction. These are Warbugia salutaris, Milicia excelsa, Bivinia jalbertii and Strychnos mitis. This paper also gives the status of current research on some forest tree species in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Forestry Commission is the authority in forestry issues. There are two pieces of legislation namely the Forest Act and the Communal Forest Produce Act, which are used to enforce sustainable management of the country's forest genetic resources. There are other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are actively involved in forest matters and they also lobby the government to put conducive policy framework in place.
