Communities sign agreements to protect forests

Communities in Chikhwawa have signed an agreement with government and the European Union (EU) committing themselves to protecting natural forests in their areas.

This is one of the mechanisms the communities have identified in their fight against climate change and as a way of managing and mitigating the risk of natural disasters.

Every year, dozens of families are forced out of their homes in the district by floods; one of the disasters communities in traditional authorities (T/As) Katunga, Maseya and Makhwira are linking to severe cutting down of trees and clearing of ground cover.

Speaking before the signing ceremony last Friday, Muyaya II Village Forest Committee chairperson Jameson Macheso attributed the problem partly to the thriving charcoal business taking place in the district.

“Chikhwawa would soon be a ‘desert’ if there were no interventions by the Department of Forestry through the EU-funded Improved Forestry Management for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (IFMSLP). And we pledge to co-operate fully and preserve the forests,” he explained.

He said village forest committees have been established to enable policymakers to share information.

T/A Katunga said he was concerned that his area was becoming a ‘home’ to natural disasters such as droughts and food crises because of the improper use of natural resources.

He, thus, stressed the need for communities to respect the commitments they made with government and the EU to reverse the situation.

Chikhwawa district forestry officer (DFO) Leonard Kamangadazi warned that reconciling climate and development goals would pose a challenge to the country if communities do not protect natural resources.

Kamangadazi explained that deforestation fuels climate change, hence the need to conserve forests if citizens were to achieve their development dreams.

He said under the agreement, his office will provide financial and technical assistance to communities, which have committed themselves to the conservation of forests.

“We intend to apply innovative ways to involve all sectors of society, to strengthen collective responsibility, thus improve implementation of community-based forestry management plans,” said Kamangadazi. n