Malawi: Salima District Council announced the intention of planting a total of four million trees during the 2025/2026 tree planting season. The organization is calling for support from all the stakeholders of the district to achieve the target.
The council has already partnered with M&B Company, manufacturers of Tamu-Tamu drink, in launching the tree planting season. They have also publicized the target to plant a total of 4,000,000 trees during the season.
The launch of the 2025/2026 tree planting season was hosted on Saturday at Makande Primary School. The stakeholders gathered in the area of Traditional Authority Salima where Salima District Council chairperson Ephraim Manthepa claimed that the collaborative effort is key in replenishing the district’s vegetative cover.
“High population and careless cutting down of trees and large-scale charcoal burning in the district has hit us hard, therefore we really need to coordinate to ease some of the climatic shocks such as droughts and flooding,” he said.
He said the district has lost much of its vegetative cover, which is worrisome as most parts of the land have been left bare resulting in running water and soil erosion, adding that low yield has been prevalent in most communities.
Manthepa then recommended tree planting as the best initiative for restoring the environment.
He also urged everyone in the district to take part in caring for the trees.
“We have to restore our nature by planting a good number of trees every year. Each of us had to participate in caring for the trees that have been planted in the community.” he said.
Acting Director of Natural Resources and Environment, Adam Jason, claimed that he was confident that they will reach the target.
“The initiative is going well and we are happy to say that we have managed to plant over 3.8 million trees already. The numbers are giving us more confidence that we will meet the target of four million trees by the end of the planting season,” he said.
Jason also applauded M&B for being a trusted partner in supporting the tree planting initiatives for the past two years, and he further called for more partners in the drive.
M&B Company has collaborated with the district council as forest cover is crucial for the company’s business. Manager MacCity Makhuwira said they are happy to partner with the district council on this venture.
“Most of the ingredients for Tamu-Tamu drink come from the vegetation. We, therefore, have joined the initiative in which we have planted 10,000 seedlings so far,” he said.
The council has asked the people to take on the responsibility of caring for the trees.