High electricity tariffs are affecting the Zambian government's policy of rural electrification. Opening Zambia Forestry Action Plan Donor Round Table meeting at Lusaka's Mulungushi International Conference Centre yesterday, environment and natural resources minister William Harrington said they were aware of the negative impact of the current high electricity tariffs to deforestation and the environment. "There's need to seriously think about viable alternative sources of energy apart from harmonising the two policies," Harrington said. He disclosed that Zambia loses between 250, 000 and 300, 000 hectares of forest per year through the clearing of trees forcommercial agricultural activities, firewood and late fires.