The ManicaPost
Environmental Reporter
VELD fires have destroyed at least 244 000 hectares of land and forests so far this year, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has said.
A total of 1 455 incidences of veld fires have been recorded since the beginning of this year, compared to 1 904 over the same period last year.
EMA environmental education and publicity manager Ms Amkela Sidange said the average burnt area per incident has declined to 244 000 hectares from 410 395 hectares last year.
“The five most affected provinces were Mashonaland West (67 000 ha), Mashonaland Central (38 000 ha), Matabeleland North (34 000 ha), Mashonaland East (31 000 ha) and Midlands (25 000ha),” Ms Sidange said.
A woman is reported to have died in one of the veld fires.
“The causes of these fires is attributed to land clearing and this resulted in a death incident of a 70-year-old woman recorded in Gutu District in August,” she said.
