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Hunger Project in tree planting exercise in Neno

 

The Hunger Project Malawi has advised people of Neno District to take care of the trees planted along Lisungwi River.

The organisation’s project manager Thandiwe Noah said this during a tree planting exercise along the river which gets flooded every year, killing people and destroying their crops.

Noah plants a fruit tree

“Lisungwi is one of the tributaries of Shire River and we are planting trees along this river so that we contain soil erosion. We are working here in Neno in 45 villages with financial assistance from Millennium Challenge Account Malawi (MCA-M).

“In the three years the project has been running, we have planted 220 000 trees,” she said.

Neno district forestry officer Emmanuel Ngwangwa said his office is facing challenges in dealing with producers of charcoal.

“We have forestry by-laws and they are facing resistance from chiefs. The battle against deforestation cannot be won by one person, but through joint efforts by government, communities and chiefs,” he said.

Ngwangwa said they will ensure that all the trees planted survive.

Lisungwi ward councillor Patrick Mwale urged the communities not to cut down trees along rivers to control flooding.

“As leaders, it is our responsibility to educate the rural masses against cutting down of trees and also urge them to plant more trees,” he said.

The National Forestry Season was launched last December by President Peter Mutharika in Neno. n

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