Machinga district commissioner (DC) Rosemary Nawasha says they target to plant 1.5 million trees during this year’s tree-planting season.
She said this on Saturday during a tree-planting exercise in Machinga North East.
The DC, however, bemoaned the survival rate of trees previously planted in the district.
Said Nawasha: “The survival rate has been between 50 and 60 percent.
“This year we want to improve by taking care of the trees.”
She also asked communities to support the initiative by planting trees and managing forests to fight the impact of climate change.
In his remarks, Machinga North East legislator Ajilu Kalitendele thanked government for encouraging lawmakers to plant trees in their constituencies.
“Forests protect land from erosion and they provide timber and poles for construction; hence, people should protect them,” he said.
Kalitendele said due to lack of harsh punishment, timber milling and charcoal making has become rampant in the area.
He has since asked the Department of Forestry to work with communities to eradicate the malpractice.
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