The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has released the new Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) for Zimbabwe, which incorporates the FSC's latest Principles and Criteria for effective forest management. The standard will take effect on 1 January 2026.
The scope of the Zimbabwe standard encompasses plantation and indigenous forests. It includes large-scale and small- or low-intensity managed forests (SLIMFs). Producers of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are also catered for.
Growing deforestation
Zimbabwe is home to over 5,930 species of plants and more than 1,360 species of animals. Forests and woodlands currently cover about 35% of the country's total land area and play multiple essential roles critical to the livelihoods of poor rural communities.
In 2021, the forest products sector accounted for about 3% of Zimbabwe's total GDP. The country has three major forest ecosystems: Baikiaea, which comprises 25% of total forest cover; Miombo, covering 30%; and Mopane, accounting for 45%.
However, deforestation is an urgent issue. Between 1990 and 2010, Zimbabwe lost an average of 1.48% of its forest cover each year, totalling over 6.5 million hectares. Data from Global Forest Watch indicate that between 2002 and 2024, the country lost 1.02 million hectares (13%) of humid primary forest, accounting for 0.43% of its total tree cover loss during that period.
According to the Forestry Commission, the country loses an average of 330,000 hectares of forest land each year due to agricultural expansion, tobacco curing, overreliance on fuelwood energy, increased human settlement, uncontrolled veld fires, and the introduction of invasive alien species. At the current rate of forest loss, it is estimated that Zimbabwe could lose all its forests within 52 years.
Sustainable forestry
The new IFSS represents a significant advancement in FSC's commitment to promoting sustainable forestry practices in Zimbabwe. Forest certification ensures that plantations are managed responsibly and sustainably, protecting the rights of forest workers and communities, safeguarding the environment, and ensuring the profitability of the forest enterprise. It will facilitate the export of Zimbabwean forest products and enhance competitiveness.
The development of this standard was a collaborative effort. In 2023, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) appointed the non-governmental organisation Soil Association Certification to develop Interim Forest Stewardship Standards (IFSS) for Zimbabwe.
Soil Association's forestry standards specialists, Vanessa Linforth and Jeanette Clarke, facilitated the standard development process in Zimbabwe, working closely with the lead forestry agency, the Zimbabwe Forestry Commission. Stakeholders were identified in 2023 and participated in several online and onsite consultations, culminating in a workshop in Lusaka where various industries and community members discussed the second draft of the standard.
The IFSS is aligned with the 2023 Zimbabwe National Forest Policy and the National Development Strategy 1 (2021-2025), which is Zimbabwe's first five-year Medium-Term Plan, aimed at realising the country's Vision 2030 for national development.