Machinga communities move to restore vegetative cover

Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme participants in Machinga have embarked on natural tree regeneration exercise to restore the lost vegetative cover in the district.

In an interview after visiting micro-catchment areas in traditional authorities (T/As) Nyambi and Liwonde, the participants said they realised that it was easier and cheaper to restore forestry cover through regeneration of trees than planting new ones.

Nyenyezi Catchment Area chairperson Namad Chawanda said participants in T/A Nyambi tried to plant new trees but struggled to take care of them to grow.

“The trees’ survival rate has been minimal due to hot weather conditions. Again, reforestation through planting trees is expensive because of the cost of seedlings and how to take care of the same,” he said.

Participant Emily Evance from Masanje micro catchment in T/A Liwonde said trees under natural regeneration grow faster.

“Restoring vegetative cover will help to restore soil fertility, reduce soil erosion and improve moisture,” she said.

Evance commended government for introducing the World Bank-funded programme, saying its interventions will help to restore degraded landscapes and improve food production.

Machinga district extension officer Towera Gondwe, who is leading the exercise, said the initiative can help to combat global warming.

He said: “Apart from reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming, the trees’ roots will bind the soil and prevent running water from washing away the top soil.

“For the few years we have been regenerating the natural trees, things have changed for the better now.”

Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme is funded by World Bank.