By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, December 20, Mana: Sub-Traditional Authority (STA) Mdunga of Kasungu says he will ensure that every chief under his jurisdiction plants at least 50 trees per season and takes care of them to set an example for communities to conserve the environment amidst climate change.

Mdunga told reporters at Kapululu on Sunday during a media tour organised to appreciate the preparedness of the second cycle of the World Bank Funded Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CSPWP) in some of the 20 catchment areas in Kasungu district.

Mdunga said cultivation of flue-cured tobacco in the area has resulted in massive clearing of forests leading to land degradation hence the need for reforestation.

He said: “We have cleared all the forests in this area because of tobacco farming. Even when tobacco companies give us tree seedlings, very few farmers plant them.

“This time I have taken it upon myself that all chiefs under my territory must be planting not less than 50 trees per season to complement CSPWP activities. If that happens, it will be easy for them to convince their subjects to follow suit.”

He said, through CSPWP, the area has managed to replant trees in the deforested Kaphirigwenje Hills and reclaimed gullies that came as a result of clearing of trees.

“We are taking care of the trees we planted during the first cycle of this project and now we have prepared about 30,000 seedlings as community contribution to the project to show that we own it.

“We are hopeful that in the next three years, our villages will be green with trees. We are serious and we will ensure that this starts with us chiefs going down to every household,” he said.

Senior Assistant Land Resource Conservation Officer for Kasungu, Patricia Kanyika, said it is pleasing that communities have shown ownership of the land conservation initiatives through preparing of tree seedlings and taking care of the already planted trees which gives hope for the project’s sustainability.

She said: “Kasungu is one of the districts that has been heavily affected by land degradation especially in Chamama, Mkanakhoti and Chulu Extension Planning Areas (EPAs).

“So, this project has assisted a lot and we hope that, as it continues, more areas will be restored thereby helping communities harvest more crops for both food and commercial purposes.”

One of the programme beneficiaries, John Chibisa, said apart from restoring the environment, the project has also helped empower communities economically through the wages they receive at the end of each project cycle.

He requested authorities to ensure that the programme participants get their wages timely.