The major direct drivers of ecosystems change and biodiversity loss in Zimbabwe have been accelerated urban housing construction, expansion in agriculture and mining, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, deforestation, invasive alien species, climate change and high dependence on the natural capital for human development • Forest diversity has been declining due to expansion of agriculture, unsustainable exploitation of fuelwood, infrastructural developments, uncontrolled fires and invasive alien species • Tobacco farming has contributed to 15% of deforestation due to dependence by 90% of tobacco farmers on fuelwood for curing. • An increase in the population of newly resettled areas has resulted in accelerated clearance of forests and woodlands for cultivation