Deloitte Malawi, in partnership with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM), has taken a step toward environmental sustainability by planting 2,000 tree seedlings at the Mudi Catchment Area in Blantyre.
The initiative is part of Deloitte Malawi’s Purpose Beyond Profit program, which focuses on corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation. In addition to the tree-planting exercise, the effort includes managing and nurturing raised tree seedlings at Mudi Nursery in Blantyre, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Speaking during the tree-planting exercise on Friday, Deloitte Malawi partner Vilengo Beza said the initiative aligns with the firm’s commitment to combating deforestation and restoring degraded forests across the country.
“We believe that we can contribute to the restoration of the environment, as we have noted that the country is losing 32,000 hectares of forest cover every year due to the cutting down of trees for fuelwood, charcoal burning, and other activities. This has resulted in many problems, including deforestation, erosion, floods, and drought,” he said.
WESM environmental education manager, Osward Bonongwe, said the collaboration is a positive step towards sustainable environmental practices.
He emphasized the importance of restoring forest cover in the Mudi Catchment Area, which was once covered with trees and serves as a crucial water source for the Blantyre Water Board (BWB).
“It is important to restore tree cover in this area, which was once rich in vegetation and plays a key role as a catchment basin for the BWB. We need to plant and take care of these trees to ensure they survive and thrive,” he added.
Through this partnership, Deloitte Malawi and WESM aim to enhance biodiversity, improve water catchment areas, and promote greener urban spaces.
