Mbabane – The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, with support from the World Bank, is hosting a three-day Forest Fire Management Workshop for chiefs at the Hilton Garden Inn. Chiefs are being equipped with vital skills in forest fire prevention, control, and sustainable management.
The Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, representing the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, revealed that the World Bank has provided E6.5 million to support training programmes aimed at promoting sustainable forest management in Eswatini.
Speaking during the workshop, Tshawuka said the funding will support the education of chiefs and farmers on preventing forest and veld fires, combating deforestation, and creating income-generating opportunities through forest-based products.
He explained that the money, will be used to train local chiefs on sustainable forest management practices. These include strategies to avoid deforestation, curb veld fires, and protect indigenous tree species.
Tshawuka urged the chiefs to take an active role in protecting forests, noting that fires not only destroy livelihoods but also contribute to severe environmental degradation. “Our chiefs must ensure that indigenous trees are protected and not cut down indiscriminately, as this would deprive future generations of our rare and valuable plant species,” he said.
Day Two of the workshop focused on sustainability and the development of market opportunities for forest products.
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