By Linda Likomwa

Phalombe, February 16, Mana: National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) plans to plant 10,000 trees across Malawi this year to raise awareness to all players in the construction industry that trees are key in the industry.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday during tree planting exercise at Chimbiri Primary School in Phalombe, NCIC Chief Executive Officer Engineer George Khonje said each year NCIC participates in tree planting within the forestry season, adding that the industry mostly depends on wooden materials.

“Most of the damages done on trees are a result of construction work and we developed a special policy that looks at how to manage environmental issues during construction. Each year we partner with different stakeholders to plant and take care of trees so that the environment is taken care of,” Khonje said.

He added that in recent years, the country has been hit by natural disasters because most of the natural vegetation has been destroyed.

Khonje said NCIC selected Phalombe this year for the tree planting exercise due to the disasters that the district experienced, adding that the tree planting was also part of community awareness to bring back the lost vegetation cover.

Speaking earlier, Director of Administration for Phalombe District Council, Bakali Maulidi, thanked NCIC for deciding to plant trees in Phalombe, saying this was relevant because people in the district have been experiencing series of natural calamities that are related to environmental degradation.

He added that Phalombe District Council consider planting and caring of tree seedlings as crucial, such that the council put in place measures and strategies that would ensure that all the trees planted should grow to their full potential.

Traditional Authority Kaledzera pledged to work with his subjects and all stakeholders to ensure that all the 4,000 tree seedlings planted in his area are cared for high survival rate.

Chimbiri Primary School Headteacher Christopher Tambwalingondo also thanked NCIC for deciding to plant trees at his school, saying the 4,000 trees will adequately cover bare land around the school.

“Each time there are strong winds, classroom roofs are blown off because there are no trees to block the wind. The school will work with chiefs and surrounding members of the community to take care of the trees,” he said, and expressed hope that fruit trees that have been planted will also be useful in food supplement within the school meals programme.

NCIC is also expected to plant trees in central and northern regions.