Neno meets on natural resource management

International nongovernmental organisation, Action Aid, last week engaged local structures in natural resources management in Neno District to strengthen collaboration in forest recovery and management.

The organisation is implementing a project on gender-inclusive environment and natural resources management, with funding from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Malawi. Among others, the project aims at reducing sedimentation and siltation in the Shire River.

Action Aid project officer Guadalupe Kabiya said they were optimistic that the composition of the gathering would help the project achieve its objectives as it involved all stakeholders in the district.

He said despite several efforts to reduce degradation, there is continued deforestation which is happening in the communities.

Neno district council chairperson Montfort Bwanali called for collective responsibility among stakeholders to deal with the problem.

He observed that fines that are imposed on charcoal burners are too low to be effective in curbing the practice.