Malawi Dowa district council launched the districts tree planting season on Monday. They have made a call for continued efforts in preserving the environment.
Dowa Council Chairperson, Gift Nkhono Songeya, presided over the launch ceremony at Mtsamkanga, in the area of Senior Chief Chakhaza. He claimed that evironmental conservation should not only be limited to activities under projects, but should be reflected in people’s daily lives.
“As a district, this year we plan to plant around two million and five hundred trees. Currently we have already planted over 1.7 million trees. This work is being done both by government units and stakeholders.
“But what we want is that at any suitable place, there should be a tree. Therefore, we are urging people in the district to take this just as an example, but the real work should be embraced by the people, to plant trees in their farms, gardens, community and homes,” said Songeya.
He said the tree planting exercise will be reciprocated in all the traditional leaders in the district.
Songeya then extended the call to traditional leaders, to ensure protection of trees within their jurisdictions by ending wanton cutting down of trees, animal grazing in woodlots, and preventable wild fires.
“Sometimes we face food shortages not because we do not work hard, but because the land has lost its fertility due to soil erosion, emergence of gullies or harsh weather conditions, which to an extent is a result of environmental degradation.
“So let us plant more trees, take care of them, and regard overall environmental preservation as part of our day to day activities,” said Songeya.
The event was launched under this year’s National Forestry Season theme of Restore Forests and Lands to Secure Food Production.
Forestry Officer for the Central Zone, Deus Chagunda while highlighting the importance of trees, urged people to consult their extension workers on which trees enhances soil fertility recommended for planting in farms, and which types are suitable to plant within their household surroundings.
The goal he said was to have more trees serving the right purposes at the right places.
“But as a reminder, Malawi signed an international agreement that by 2030, the country will restore 4.5 million hectors of degraded land. But we cannot achieve that by planting trees only, so let us also promote natural regeneration,” he said.
Senior Chief Chakhaza urged the community to own the interventions saying these are for the benefit of the community.
“I would like to urge all chiefs in the district that where possible, provide some land for developmental initiatives like tree planting exercises. This does not benefit anyone else but ourselves and the people we serve.
“In the same vein, let me commend Group Village Head Mtsamkanga for a commendable job she is doing in environmental preservation. This is not the first intervention happening here, which only shows how she and the people are committed in protecting the environment here,” he said.
Amongst other prominent people, the District Commissioner Stallichi Mwambiwa and Member of Parliament for Dowa Ngala Arthur Sungitsa were present at the launch event.
Around 2,150 trees were planted by council officials, elected members, stakeholders and community members.