MW Set to Beat 50 Million Target of Trees to be Planted this Year

MW Set to Beat 50 Million Target of Trees to be Planted this Year

A 2018 Population and Housing Census Report indicated that about 99 percent of Malawians rely on wood for fuel and charcoal production.

The startling figures translate that there in unprecedented pressure on the country’s forest.

Zeroing in the 2018 report which officials attest that its findings still stand five years since the release, a combined 98 percent of Malawi’s population use wood for fuel and charcoal production while only 2 percent use electricity for lighting and cooking.

Thus, even if Malawi can plant the targeted 50 million trees a year at a survival rate of 100 percent, until the problem of energy is solved, charcoal production will continue to wedge war on the country’s forests.

To reverse the situation, government has for the years championed the re-afforestation drives to improve the standard.

But the Department of Forestry which is in the lead in several afforestation drives has told Zodiak Online that the country is struggling to ensure a higher survival rate of trees planted each and every year due to poor management as only 60 per cent are surviving.

Deputy Director of Forestry Titus Zulu said this at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) during a tree planting exercise that the institution conducted with aid from FDH Bank.

Zulu however is upbeat the country will beat the target to plant 50 million trees this year adding there is need for corporate to take lead in taking care of the trees to increase the survival rate of trees.

“Caring for the trees which are planted is an issue. We usually plant trees annually but between 60 to 66 percent of the trees survive. That’s why we are encouraging that these trees should be taken care of” said Zulu

Meanwhile LUANAR Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr Agnes Mwangwela said the institution taking lead in giving expertise on how the country can increase the survival rate of trees on top of their plans to plant 20,000 trees at the institution ‘s two campuses of Bunda and Natural Resources College in Lilongwe.

"As an institution of higher learning which has several of its programs that encourage conservation of the environment, we have conducted research on how we can improve survival rate of trees. We have also been in the lead in planting trees this year. We started planting trees in January and we feel it's our responsibility in helping government to conserve the environment," said Dr Mwangela

President Lazarus Chakwera in December last year launched this year’s tree planting season that took place at Mangochi Palm Forest Reserve in Mangochi.

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Last modified on Friday, 17/02/2023

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