Govt for Dzalanyama restoration
Government has expressed optimism that the depleted Dzalanyama Forest Reserve in Lilongwe will be restored if the survival rate of trees planted in the 2016/2017 rainy season can be sustained.
Government chief secretary Lloyd Muhara said tree seedlings that were planted last year survived by 78 percent, which gives hope that the once mighty forest can regain it lost glory.
He said: “There has been a 78 percent survival rate on the trees that were planted last year and we are hoping that if we do this every year, for the next five to 10 years, then we are going to restore Dzalanyama Forest, which has suffered massive deforestation over the years.”
The chief secretary was speaking during a tree planting exercise commissioned by Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) to dress the Lilongwe River catchment area and help conserve water for the Capital City.
LWB board chair Edward Chitsonga attributed the high tree survival rate to good care.
Said Chitsonga: “We made sure to plant the trees when there was enough moisture in the soil and when it became too dry, we watered the trees to ensure that they don’t wither and die.”
He said the board planned to plant 6 000 trees but ended up planting only 1 000 seedlings during the exercise, so the remaining 5 000 seedlings will be planted on a better, rainy day.
The biggest challenge to the Dzalanyama Forest has been the surrounding communities who fell trees for charcoal or firewood. n
