By: Lloyd M’bwana
The country’s National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC) in collaboration with Christian Aid and Act Alliance is embarking intensive tree planting exercise for one million trees to be planted with the expectation of 85 percent of the survival rate in this year’s growing season.
The exercise follows this year’s national forestry season which opened from December 15, 2015 to April 15, 2016 which was officially launched by President Peter Mutharika on January 18, 2016 at Masasa Primary School ground in the central district of Ntcheu.
With the theme titled, “Arrest deforestation-Plant trees and conserve forestry, Malawi government through Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining encourages the general public to plant more trees in bare hills, riverine borehole site and other water points and homesteads.
Over the weekend NYNCC together with Christian Aid and Act Alliance planted over 5,000 trees at Lilongwe City Council’s sewage site at Kauma in the capital Lilongwe in a bid to cover the bare land which had been neglected for a decade.
The planting exercise attracted primary school children, communities, chiefs, government official, ward councilors with expectation that the same initiative will be extended to other districts including Kasungu, Neno, Thyolo, Mulanje, Chikhwawa, Nsanje, and Machinga among others.
Speaking in an interview with The Maravi Post after gracing the planting exercise Willy Chopondera, Lilongwe City Council (LCC) Mayor assured the organizers of his office’s ability of managing the planted trees through provision of intensive patrols.
The Maravi Post later caught up with Pansi Katenga, Christian Aid’s Country Manager on the prospect of the trees management who assured the general public that all measures were in place including tree management training to sustain the survival rate.
“Tree planting exercise should be a spirit in all of us year in year out in order to recover our environment from deforestation which has contributed to the effects of climate including torrential rainfall, dry spell, floods among other.
“This is the reason we have earmarked for one million trees to be planted in 2016 growing season targeting eight districts including Lilongwe, Kasungu, Neno, Thyolo, Mulanje, Chikhwawa, Nsanje, Machinga with expectation that the survival rate be 85% as all measures have been put in place by engaging directly communities in these areas whom might appreciate the important of trees”, optimistic Katenga.
Echoing on the same, Dominic Nyasulu NYNCC’s Programs Manager encourages young people in taking part on the tree exercise saying effects of climate has not spared them hence the need to embrace the initiative.
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining through the forestry department intends to plant 60 million trees for the 2015/2015 nation forestry season in bid boost vegetation cover amid effects of climate change.