Stakeholders in campaign to enhance tree survival

Tree survival campaign meetings are underway in Mzuzu where different stakeholders have been urged to take care of the trees they have planted.

Regional forestry planning officer for the North, Henry Kagulo, said the meetings are conducted to report progress of this year’s tree planting season and how best stakeholders can take care of the planted trees.

“At first, people planted trees without taking care of them. Now we are saying once they plant trees they should take care of them to grow well.

“We encourage these [tree-caring] campaigns because we know most companies and individuals spend a lot of money to plant trees year-in year-out, hence the plea to make them survive,” he said.

Kagulo further said the tree-survival campaign meetings being conducted are also aimed at finding ways of overcoming challenges of climate change.

However, he could not give the tree survival rate in the 2015/16 National Forestry Season saying his office is still collecting data.

During the said season, the Northern Region planted over eight million trees.

Among other activities meant to enhance tree survival rate, communities are encouraged to weed their woodlots and make firebreaks to prevent fire from entering the woodlots, according to Kagulo.

This year’s National Forestry Season was launched on January 18 2016 at Masasa Primary School in Ntcheu. President Arthur Peter Mutharika presided over the function. n