Malawi: A youth-led organization called BIG 2 Projects has organized a nation-wide tree planting competition to plant more than 10, 000 trees. The participants have to plant trees in their respective houses and communities. The aim of this project is to promote the participation of the community in fighting climate change.
Planting trees is one look of the many ways that the communities can contribute to climate action and promote agro forestry. Manager of Big 2 projects, Blessings Mlelemba announced that the competition is only targeting farmers.
The contest serves as a way of encouraging them to adopt sustainable land management practices thereby mitigating climate change and improving crop yields.
Mlelemba pointed out that online registration has commenced and will run until the end of this year.
He informed the media that every farmer participating in the event has to plant not less than five trees. The varieties include Gliricidia, Moringa, Nsangu or any other tree species.
Mlelemba disclosed that Big 2 projects are working with government officers and community led organisations. The aim of the organization is to ensure that people in the rural areas have the chance to participate in the competition.
Executive Director for the Coordination Union for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE), Charles Mkoka, said that the tree planting competition is important to aid environmental regeneration to reduce natural disasters.
“Tree planting competitions like these in Malawi will help the administration in fighting climate change, afforestation can help restore degraded landscapes and improve food security.”
Mkoka added that tree planting projects serve to empower communities to play their role in reducing climate change.
“These projects do not only address environmental issues but also empower communities to take ownership of their role in climate adaptation and mitigation,” he said.
The registration window has been opened for the whole month of December and the trees planting will start in January and end in July where different prizes ranging from MK100,000 to T-shits will be awarded to farmers based on the number of trees that have survived.
This competition is also a means of promoting a book titled “Agriculture Hundred years from now”.