会议名称：2013世界木材日研讨会(2013 World Wood Day Symposium)
会议时间：2013年3月19-20日
会议地点：Karimjee Hall, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
报 告 人：Elvas Mari
　　　　　National Arts Council of Zimbabwe

Abstract
Wood has been one of nature's greatest gifts to mankind. Wood and wood-based products are the most important of all man's resources for three main reasons; wood is universal, it is a raw material that can satisfy almost every requirement or existence. Wood is abundant, more than eight billion acres, one quarter of the total earth's surface, are forested.  Wood resource is inexhaustible and renewable, the forest is not a mine that will be depleted as it is very easy to renew. The Zimbabwean Experience has provided lessons in sustainable use of wood especially its traditional practice namely; The tradition of totemism, Tradition of sacred places, The practice of certain trees not used for certain activities and the Chieftainship system that has enabled Chiefs and headman to oversee the use of forests and wood. The greatest threat to Sustainable Use of Wood/Tree is commercialization of the wood and wood products and destruction of traditional practices. The use of wood in art has been as long as the people of Zimbabwe. Arts will never and has never been a threat to sustainable use of wood in Zimbabwe although many organizations have argued and in some cases banned wood sculpting.

Speaker Profile
Elvas Mari is the Executive Director of National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) since 2009 and has been with the arts and culture sector for a cumulative period of 20 years. He has been with NACZ in a senior position for 11 years now. Elvas holds a Bachelor of Arts (General) and Master of Education Degrees with the University of Zimbabwe. He has worked as a teacher, lecturer and curriculum planner for 10 years and was part of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training from 1997-9. He is a published writer with Shona poetry anthologies and textbooks that are currently used in secondary schools in Zimbabwe. He sits on Boards of some institutions in Zimbabwe including Culture Fund of Zimbabwe, Women’s University in Africa and many other arts related organisations in Zimbabwe. Through his leadership, significant development has been registered in the arts and culture in Zimbabwe with several national and international festivals now attracting internationally acclaimed artists. He has presented papers in many international conferences including Arts Summits organised by International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). He is married to Meria and have three children, Tapiwa, Vimbiso Dorcas and Tavonga.