Forest Management and the Carbon Trading Business in Zimbabwe

Forest Management and the Carbon Trading Business in the present study critically examined the intricate relationship between forest management and the carbon trading business in Zimbabwe, focusing on how sustainable forestry practices influence the viability and scalability of carbon markets within the national context. Rooted in an empirical framework that utilised a mixed methods approach, the research drew insights from 101 respondents comprising Carbon Green Africa (CGA) staff, community members from Mashonaland West, and personnel from the Ministry of Environment. The selection of participants was random, enhancing the objectivity and representativeness of the findings. The central argument advanced through this study is that sustainable forest management constitutes the linchpin of Zimbabwe‘s carbon trading business, yet its potential is severely constrained by legislative gaps, weak institutional support, and a lack of enforced corporate accountability. The study revealed that in Africa, and Zimbabwe in particular, carbon trading initiatives are largely forest-based, relying on vast tracts of woodland to generate carbon credits. However, this dependency is undermined by fragmented or poorly executed forest governance structures. The absence of a coherent, enforceable framework for forest management presents significant obstacles to the sustainability of carbon projects. A striking revelation from the findings was the lack of any existing legislation mandating local firms to purchase carbon credits. This regulatory vacuum has contributed to a carbon trading sector that is underdeveloped and heavily reliant on international buyers and voluntary participation. Such an arrangement fails to cultivate a domestic market robust enough to support long-term environmental and economic objectives. The absence of compulsion allows local corporations to circumvent climate responsibility, thereby weakening the incentives necessary to drive systemic participation and investment in carbon offsetting. Furthermore, the study uncovered broad community support for the expansion of CGA‘s carbon trading project. This enthusiasm stems from a recognition of the tangible socio-economic vi benefits such initiatives provide, especially within rural communities where livelihoods remain vulnerable and opportunities limited. The willingness of local populations to support project expansion signifies a critical but underutilised constituency in national climate strategies. Nonetheless, without a deliberate policy framework that both protects and integrates community interests, such goodwill risks being tokenistic and short-lived. From these findings, it was concluded that forest management must be understood not merely as an environmental necessity, but as a strategic economic instrument, central to the effective implementation of carbon trading in Zimbabwe. The study‘s recommendations call for a recalibration of national priorities through the establishment of robust, enforceable legal mechanisms that will embed carbon trading into national development plans. There is also a pressing need for extensive stakeholder education to foster greater awareness of the socio-economic benefits associated with carbon trading. Furthermore, the introduction of mandatory compliance measures for local companies is essential to transition carbon trading from a donor-supported endeavour to a fully institutionalised economic sector. In sum, the research underscores the latent potential of forest-based carbon trading in Zimbabwe, while critically exposing the structural and regulatory deficiencies that impede its growth. A strategic policy overhaul, rooted in legal reform, institutional commitment, and community engagement, is imperative if Zimbabwe is to harness forest management as a catalyst for both climate resilience and economic development.