By Lekereni Chinkhota

Salima, January 29, Mana: Salima District Council, through the forestry office, has planted over 300 trees as part of beautifying the town and restoring vegetative cover.

Speaking Friday during a tree planting exercise around the town, District Forestry Officer, Adam Jason underscored the need for the Council to lead by example in planting trees for the town to look beautiful while checking the risks of climate change.

"We thought of planting trees in our town because in forestry, we advocate for urban forest management, and the activity today is part of that. The town has a lot of people hence we need shades for all the people who come to town for different activities,” he said.

District Environmental Officer for Salima, Samuel Chimowa emphasised the importance of planting trees saying it helps in reducing effects of climate change.

"Climate has been changing because the hot air that circulates in the atmosphere is not absorbed due to inadequate trees; in so doing it has destroyed the ozone layer that protects us from direct sunlight. That is why we are experiencing too much heat in the district,” Chimowa said.

Water Development Officer, Waki Chungwa concurred with Chimowa saying planting of trees across the township and other locations will help conserve the environment.

“River banks which are full of trees, protect running water from eroding the soil that ends up silting our rivers. Instead, the water infiltrates the soil because the roots hold the soil and the water will not run faster,” Chungwa narrated. 

The tree planting activity was organised by the forestry department and will replace the old, dry and almost dead trees that pose threat to lives of people in the town.

The activity follows the launch of the 2023/2024 National Forestry Season by President Lazarus Chakwera in Phalombe recently.