By Beatrice Bangula

Blantyre February 19, Mana: Blantyre District Council has launched 2024–2025 Forestry Season in Traditional Authority Kunthembwe’s area where the council announced it will plant at least 1.2 million tree seedlings in various places.

Speaking during the launch on Wednesday, under the theme; Restore Forest and Land to Secure Food Production, Blantyre District Council Chairperson, Councilor, Elson Dumuka, said there is need to keep on planting trees to restore the depleted vegetative cover in manty parts of the district.

He therefore called on community members to plant and care for the tree seedlings to ensure good survival rate.

“When the tree survival rate is high, there will be many trees, and this will help to address desertification. Let everyone, including school learners, ward councilors, and Members of Parliament take full responsibility of planting trees and taking care of it,” he added.

Blantyre District Forestry Officer, Noel Moyo, said there is need for collective effort among stakeholders to restore the degraded environment.

According to Moyo, as of Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the council had planted almost 642 tree seedlings in the area of Traditional Authority Kunthembwe.

Senior Chief Kunthembwe hailed Blantyre District Council for the initiative, saying it will help to reduce climate change effects.

“As a traditional leader, using my own initiative, I have managed to plant almost 100 tree seedlings of various species, such as bluegum. Thanks Blantyre District Council for launching this forestry season in my area,” he said.

Malawi’s Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi, launched the 2024/2025 National Forest Season on December 15 in Chitipa.