By Linda Likomwa

Phalombe, January 25, Mana: Phalombe District Council has launched 2024/2025 forestry season with a call from Lhomwe Paramount Chief Kaduya, urging people in Phalombe to plant and care for tree seedlings to ensure good survival rate for better vegetative cover against land degradation and other environmental related challenges.

In an interview after the district launch on Saturday at Sub-Traditional Authority Nyambalo Headquarters, Paramount Kaduya said the district can overcome effects of climate change if adequate trees were planted and protected from destruction.

“We are now faced with flood and mudslides because we have cut down trees in our mountains and hills, so this tree planting season should remind us what our ancestors left for us. We need to do the same for the next generation to benefit what we shall plant today,” she said.

Paramount Chief Kaduya added that government through Climate Smart-Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) and World Vision Malawi through Food for Assert (FFA) programme mobilize communities to plant and protect trees for better livelihood.

Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, James Banda said the district plan to plant 2 million tree seedlings in the current forestry season, but will strive to surpass the target by 600,000 tree seedlings.

He said that his office will work with the surrounding communities through extension workers to ensure good survival rate from 85 per cent previous forestry season to 90 per cent this current season.

The forestry season began on December 15, 2024 and will end on April 15, 2025 under the theme; Restore forest and land to secure food production.