By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, February 19, mana: It’s a scorching Tuesday morning at Mangombera Full Primary School in Traditional Authority Mpherembe in Mzimba District. Scores of people, including Paramount Chief M’mbelwa V, have gathered on the school grounds.

To shelter themselves from the scorching heat, some are seated in tents erected at the venue for a tree planting launch while a majority of pupils and others have sought shelter under a big tree that is shielding them from the searing heat.

‘‘At Mangombera primary school whenever it's scorching hard and we are on recess from lessons, we seek shelter from that gigantic tree’’, says Laston Gondwe, a Standard Seven pupil.

‘‘This is the reason when I heard that Mzimba district tree planting season tree launch will take place right at our school I decided to be part of the people planting trees because this big tree that has provided shelter for us from sun rays offers a lesson on why taking good care of trees is important’’, says  Gondwe.

Gondwe and hundreds of his school mates and some community members have joined the cause to bring back vegetative cover to the communities through tree planting.

Malawi is in tree planting season aimed at planting 40 million trees to restore 22 450 hectares of degraded landscapes and Mzimba district, just like other districts, is launching its tree planting season.

The district, according to Mzimba forestry officer Masozi Shaba has set on a mission to plant three million trees this season.

Now the setting for the tree planting launch for Mzimba in the 2024/2025 is Mangombera primary school where its Traditional Authority Mpherembe is concerned seeing hectares of forest land losing trees, resulting in bare land which exposes communities to natural disasters such as floods which removes top soil from farmlands resulting in poor harvests in the gardens.

According to Shaba, charcoal burning is one factor that is leading to the rampant destruction of forests in Mzimba.

Despite annual tree planting exercises meant to replenish declining natural cover, the district still faces wanton cutting down of trees in forests reserves invaded by charcoal burners and loggers.

‘‘We as a department face challenges to deal with charcoal burning because our patrols are irregular because of mobility challenges. We don’t have a patrol vehicle as one we have developed fault’’, says Shaba.

She adds that because of the mobility challenges they do not conduct patrols as they would want to.

Lack of patrols in forest reserves exposes forests to charcoal burners who have for long been blamed for the deforestation currently happening in forests in the districts. One of the forests that has become an epicenter of charcoal burning is Perekezi.

A lot of charcoal bags line up along the roads as one passes to Mzuzu through the Mtangatanga –Mzuzu road.

The wanton cutting down of trees to make charcoal has angered Paramount Chief M’mbelwa V and Traditional Authority Mpherembe.

‘‘Along the roads, we see bags of charcoal, a sign of trees being cut and burnt uncontrollably in our forest reserves.  It's time communities joined the Department of forestry in guarding against the destruction happening to our forests least we risk losing our forests because of this uncontrolled charcoal burning’’, says M’mbelwa.

M’mbelwa understands fully the depth of devastation caused to forest reserves in the district such as Perekezi, Chimaliro and Mtangatanga. The chief knows that while the department of forestry exists to fight against loggers and also preserve the forests through patrols, they can do little if no resources are availed for their operations.

‘‘This is why we appeal to the government to allocate adequate resources to the forestry department at M’mbelwa district council as a way of stepping up efforts in protesting forest cover’’, said the Chief.

According to M’mbelwa lack of patrol vehicle is hampering effort to deal with charcoal burners who cut down trees at free will, knowing forestry officers cannot risk walking on foot to provide security to the trees in the forest reserves.

‘‘The office needs to be given vehicles to conduct patrols, invaders are destroying trees like at Perekezi forest reserve’’, he said.

Traditional Authority Mpherembe pledges to lead efforts to cramp down on charcoal burners in the district.

‘‘We don’t have choice but to join efforts to preserve our forests. We as chiefs need to lead such efforts by drumming up morale and support of our communities. There is no gain in planting trees annually when we can’t provide security to the trees being cut down in our forest reserves. It’s like fighting a losing battle’’, said Mpherembe.

While a throng has gathered at Mangombera to plant trees to bring back vegetative cover, on the roads leading to Mangombera FP School, young men are busy cutting down trees for another round of charcoal production in Perekezi.

These charcoal burners rile Senior Forestry officer for the district Masozi Shaba.

Shaba admits that charcoal burners take advantage of the inadequate resources the department has and particularly lack of vehicles for patrols to continue invading the forests for charcoal production.

‘‘Resources are minimal for our office and as an office we try our best but largely we fail to control illegal charcoal producers who are destroying tree at an alarming rate’’, she said.

She said the only vehicle they had broke down, rendering all efforts to conduct patrols futile.

Shaba said lack of a functioning vehicle has created an opportunity for charcoal producers to invade forest reserves such as Perekezi, Chimaliro and Mtangatanga where they are cutting down trees without any remorse.

‘‘We need to have two to three vehicles for us to conducts patrols. Our officers are ready but we need the vehicles’’.

In Mzimba, various NGOs namely Adra Malawi, Find your feet, Ripple Africa, Plan Malawi International , Restore Africa and Malawi-Zambia Transfrontiers Conservation Area Project are here too to render support to the launch.

Speaking on behalf of the organisations that are also involved in conservation efforts in Mzimba, Ripple Africa Country Director Force Ngwira said his organisation is working with the council in the exercise and is planting three miilion pine trees in the district.

‘‘It’s an economic empowerment drive, aside from conserving the environment, as communities can sell the trees once they mature’’, said Ngwira.

As time for tree planting and speeches comes to an end, Laston Gondwe pledges to continue watering his planted tree to ensure its survival.

‘‘Of course I have planted this tree but this is not the end. I will ensure its survival but ensuring I come here to water it more especially when it is dry’’, he said.

Environmental activist Mathews Malata in a separate interview said inculcating the importance of conserving environment and tree in particular is one way of ensuring sustainability of trees and forests in communities.

‘‘We need to groom these youngsters on importance of taking care of environment so that when they grow up taking care of trees and such related natural elements should be within their veins’’, said Malata.

Malata also said planting trees should be equated to the care given to under five children.

‘‘For trees to survive, the first five years, just like human beings, are critical. We should learn to take care of trees just like we take care of babies that are under five. It’s a critical  stage and we should always guard newly planted trees against preying goats and other livestock and also guard against fires that destroy such young trees by creating fire breaks’’, said Malata.

As the tree planting ceremony comes to an end and people disperse, Paramount Chief M’mbelwa has a parting shot:

‘‘Do not only plant trees; learn to take care of them’ ’he says.

‘‘We need to be taking care of the trees after planting. Therefore communities should take this as their responsibility’’, he said.