•THE impact of load shedding on the environment would not be felt today but in future.

By STANSLOUS NGOSA –

ZAMBIA in the recent past been experiencing load shedding because of low water levels at the Kariba Dam caused by insufficient rainfall in the 2014/2015 rainy season.
The situation has not only affected critical sectors of the economy such as the mining, agriculture and livestock but also the environment.
The impact on the economic sector is almost immediate but gradual on the environment.
Load shedding is described as the deliberate shutdown of electric power in a part or parts of a power-distribution system, generally to prevent the failure of the entire system when the demand strains the capacity of the system.
Betternow Finance Company Limited chief executive Noel Nkhoma, an economist was recently quoted in the media as saying that the increased load shedding will have a negative impact on the country’s mining sector.
This would in turn affect the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said Zesco should consider the most critical sectors of the economy such as mining in the manner they load shed.
He said it would be difficult to meet the targeted projected copper output giving rise to reduced revenue.
Mr Nkhoma added that load shedding will also reduce productivity in the economy.
The manufacturing industry from larger to medium and small would be negatively impacted.
According to the Chamber of Mines, some scope of mining production and operational activities were to be suspended by mining companies due to increased load shedding thus affecting the country’s main stay of the economy.
This means that certain sectors would suffer more and thus this would have huge impact on the economy especially the social sector due to a chain reaction.
The Poultry Association of Zambia, in its Poultry News bulletin, said the industry, which has already suffered increased input costs over the last six months, is expected to suffer more if the current conditions persist.
Power outages were expected to lead to losses especially during the first days where brooding and lighting are critical for poultry.
While the economic losses that the industry is facing cannot be quantified, it is certain that most players in the sector are finding it difficult to operate at desired operational capacity.
So these are some of the examples of the immediate impact of load shedding on the economy but what about the environment whose impact is not immediate?
The impact of load shedding on the environment would not be felt today but in future if interventions to promote alternative sources of energy are not put in place.
Since load shedding is now being experienced by everyone who has access to electricity, many people in this category have decided to find alternatives to the power outages such as charcoal.
Coupled with the fact that most rural parts are not connected to the national grid, pressure has continued to mount on the trees and other natural resources which are used as sources of energy.
The growing human settlements and farming activities are also putting more pressure on biodiversity especially tree species.
According to Green Initiative Zambia chief executive officer Jonas Kunda the rate at which trees are being cut due to economic factors  is alarming.
To illustrate the rate at which trees are being cut for charcoal, Green Initiative Zambia recently carried a community survey on energy use by various families in Luanshya’s Twashuka Township and Twashuka Ward.
It was discovered that those families with at least five members who are not connected to electricity grid, use 75 kilogrammes of charcoal per month with a supplement of fire wood for warming water for bathing.
Those families, who are connected to the electricity grid used two 25-kilogramme bags of charcoal per month with a normal supply of electricity.
What is saddening is that, the problem of load shedding is coming at a critical time when Zambia like Brazil will be implementing the sustainable management of forests and is expected to adopt the United Nations safeguards on REDD+.
REDD+ stands for Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation. This is meant to foster conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
Deforestation and forest degradation are the second leading causes of global warming, responsible for about 15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which makes the loss and depletion of forests a major issue for climate change.
The REDD+ project which is under the Ministry of Lands Environment and Natural Resource, Forest department requires Zambia to adopt certain measures that would make it eligible to benefit from the Global Green Funds.
But the question is, will Zambia be eligible to access this funding if she does not meet the bench marks due to environmental degradation.
“We should not forget that trees help to protect the ground water in the water catchment areas. If we continue cutting them, I see Zambia experiencing a worse situation than this in the next 10 years,” Mr Kunda said.
In the longer-term, Mr Kunda said, the low water levels in catchment areas would not only affect power generation but also tourism.
“We may experience low tourist turn out. Wild animals may start dying; new diseases that affect wildlife may wipe out some species thus affecting tourism,” Mr Kunda said.
He said there would be increased human-wildlife conflict as a result of habitat losses as animals like the hippos, buffaloes will terrorise farmlands meaning lions will also follow these animals for a hunt.
Mr Kunda said these are some worst scenarios the country should expect in the next five to 10 years if no appropriate action is taken.
Since the demand for energy for cooking has grown, there is need to work on the best clean and green sources apart from our Hydro Electricity Power Generation.
This means, therefore, that there is need to explore innovation not only to meet the growing demand for energy but also to safeguard the degraded or depleted natural resources.
“This is the best opportunity for our Government and Zambia’s economic development partners to invest heavily in green alternative energy sources.
“We no longer have an option or a choice but to come up with legislation and best practice guidelines for businesses that will or are venturing in this new booming venture,” Mr Kunda said.
As an environmentalist, Mr Kunda sees this situation as a great business opportunity but adds that Government should first put in place measures to protect natural resources.
Mr Kunda said there is need to reduce, legalise best practices of charcoal burning but to also give room for smart green energy business.
He said there is need to inspire Members of Parliament to debate environmental and natural resources matters even more outside the House so as to create public interest in conservation.
Mr Kunda said there is need to improve protection to the Ikelenge’s Zambezi Source Heritage site and watersheds, rivers, lakes and biodiversity.
“Employ more forest rangers, researchers, wildlife officers, Zambia Environmental Management Agency inspectors, legal officers and improve their human and material capacity to undertake their duties,” Mr Kunda said.
He called for an increase in funding to environmental protection from a paltry 0.4 to more than four per cent of the national Budget.
Mr Kunda said there is need to support and improve private public engagements and support through the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental protection.
It is therefore, imperative that strict measures are put in place to avoid Zambia turning into a desert or lose investment due to degraded and depleted natural resources.