Youths challenged to lead in tree planting

Youths in Dedza have been challenged to take a leading role in planting trees as they are the ones that will live with the effects of climate change for a longer period.

Executive director of Dedza-based Youth Initiative for Community Development (Yicod), Andrew Bwanali, said this on Monday at the end of a tree-planting exercise conducted by members of youth organisations and students in the district.

“The effects of deforestation and climate change are coming hard on all of us. Certainly, as the youth, we will have to live with these effects longer. Therefore, we have a greater role to play in tree planting to reduce the impact of climate change,” he said.

Unregulated pine trees harvesting over the past two years for timber milling activities, has left most parts of Dedza Mountain bare.

Acting deputy forestry officer for Dedza, Blessings Chingaipe, said his office is looking for working relationships with other government departments, non-governmental organisations and communities in conserving forests. n