By George Bulombola

Chitipa, December 17, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has said that trees and forests are pillars   upon which food production systems are built.

He was speaking on Tuesday during the launching ceremony of 2024/25 National Tree Planting Season at Lufita Primary School Ground in Chitipa.

Usi said most of the natural disasters which affects the country in various forms emanate from environmental destruction especially through forestry mismanagement.

“Let us internalize forestry management into our culture so that we sustain efforts which are geared at preserving forests through promotion of either tree planting and natural regeneration.

“When the environment which we are destroying starts fighting us, we can fight back. Imagine Cyclone Freddy, which claimed a lot of lives of our loved ones. Such disasters pose a threat to our environment and food production system,” said Usi.

He added that the interplay between healthy forests and food security is a necessity for human survival and prosperity, hence the need to preserve forests.

“Therefore the forestry season is not only a call to action, it is a fundamental necessity for our country as it resonates with our aspirations for a greener future and holds profound significance for our ability to enhance food production,” he added.

Usi said that a thriving agricultural sector depends on health of natural eco-systems as trees enhance soil fertility and improve water retention.

Earlier on during the event, Senior Chief Mwaulambya, advised people across the country to be interested in preserving trees, other than just planting tree seedlings.

“We have been planting tree seedlings for long but we lack interest in caring for them,” said Mwaulambya.

He added that communities within his jurisdiction have agreed to have bylaws, which are aimed at preventing people from destroying forests.

“The bylaws are not there for the sake of their existence, they attract penalties to those who do not abide by them,” he said.

Paramount Chief Kyungu also alluded to the need to preserve trees so that tree-planting seasons are meaningful to the country.

In the 2024/25 National Forestry Season, the country targets to restore about 22,000 hectares of degraded land and forests national wide by planting almost 40 Million tree seedlings, and managing 4,000 hectares of natural regeneration