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Salima earmarks 834 hectares for afforestation

Salima District Council has set aside 834 hectares of degraded land to be restored under the Malawi Youth Forest Restoration Programme.

Speaking during a full council meeting on Tuesday, Salima District Council Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee chairperson councillor Solomoni Dickson said the youth will plant and manage existing forests through clubs in their communities.

Residents planting trees on the earmarked land

He said the programme’s main goal is to enhance the youth’s active participation in interventions that promote forest restoration.

The councillor said the council is targeting youths from at least 118 clubs across the district.

“Out of the 843 hectares, 109 hectares will fall under tree planting whereas 725 will be regenerated,” Dickson said.

He said the programme has great potential to promote sustainable forest resource management.

In a separate interview, Traditional Authority (T/A) Makanjira thanked government for the programme, saying young people lacked such support.

Through the programme, youth clubs will receive K45 000 per hectare for planting trees while K13 500 has been allocated for managing a hectare of existing forests.

Salima has set aside 35 900 hectares for afforestation by 2030.

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