BY BLAIR MHONE
President Lazarus Chakwera has today launched the annual national forestry season in Dowa by making an appeal for concerted efforts in Forestry protection and management, towards restoring the country’s lost forest cover.
As part of the launch the President planted a tree at Mpanda Village Hill, together with First Lady, Madam Monica Chakwera.
Speaking after planting the tree, President Chakwera said it is very important that citizens and residents should sustain the beauty and environmental health of the country.
“The country is losing its forests at an alarming rate of one percent per year and this is a cause for worry. Building Malawi is not just about development and economic prosperity but environmental sustainability too,” Said Chakwera.
According to the Malawi leader, the initiative is in line with Malawi’s Vision 2063 in which the country strives for a clean, safe and sustainable environment.
Meanwhile, Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources Eisenhower Mkaka said his ministry is working on introducing measures towards management of the planted tree to ensure maximum survival for effective restoration of the lost forest cover.
“The country continues to lose its vegetative cover to wanton tree cutting, logging and charcoal production. Last year 50 million trees were planted across the country with a 65 percent survival rate. And this year the national target is 40 million trees with various activities to take care of the previously planted ones,” said Mkaka.
The National Forestry Season starts from 15th December to 15th April annually.
This year’s launch was delayed due to high cases of Covid-19 that were being reported in December.
