By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, February 5, Mana: District Forestry Officer for Kasungu, Fletcher Mhone, says the Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CSPWP) has significantly contributed towards achieving this year’s district target of planting at least 3 million trees.

Mhone made the remarks Tuesday when the District Environmental Subcommittee toured conservation works at Mwaeka Catchment in the area of Traditional Authority Wimbe in the district.

He revealed that over 750,000 trees, mainly under the CSPWP, have already been planted by the end of January, putting the district on the right curve to meeting its target.

“We are on the right trajectory towards achieving our district targets of 3 million trees this planting season as we are now nearing a million trees this early February.

“Most of the nurseries prepared under the CSPWP have been planted, although we still have some catchments that are still planting. We urge them to accelerate the exercise to ensure a high tree survival rate,” he said. 

Mhone encouraged the participants in the programme to carry out all the required woodlot management practices so that the planted trees survive.

“One of the tricks to ensure high survival rate of trees is to prepare nurseries early enough to accord the young trees a hardening off period before they are transplanted.

“This helps them to get accustomed to harsh conditions and when they are transplanted, they become resilient and survive,” he said.

Chairperson for the Vipingo Forestry Management Project under Mwaeka Catchment, Yohane Mwale, hailed the CSPWP for helping to restore degraded landscapes in the area and therefore called for its continuation.

“We are well aware of the programme’s objectives and its impact. This is why we have committed ourselves to it. Our plea is that it must be sustained,” he said.

The CSPWP is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Project being funded by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

In Kasungu alone, the programme has enrolled 24,000 participants who are engaged in creating soil, land and forest conservation assets while also earning a living through the monthly K48 000 payment per participant