Report

The Impact of Commercial Forest Areas on Nearby Rural Communities in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe

“This research project helps to clarify and understand the interactions between sawmills/ forest estates and the system of rights (ownership, control and access) over resources, and their impacts on the environment and local community livelihoods. The recommendations will help for the
development of policies that will have a win-win outcome for forest resources, estates and community livelihood security. At the same time, it will also be useful for implementers of local level projects. This includes technical and institutional options that can be implemented for rural communities in order for utilising wood waste and forest resources. However, while focusing on this, the re still is a need to understand existing socio-economic, legis-lative and related aspects between estate companies and surrounding communities.”