Luwawa Forest Enterprise project manager Hastings Chikoko has urged communities surrounding Perekezi Forest Reserve in Mzimba District to plant indigenous trees to conserve the forest and improve livelihoods.
He said this on Tuesday at group village head Mjojo in Traditional Authority Mzikubola in the district where stakeholders toured conservation interventions running under the More Income and Employment in Rural Areas project.
Said Chikoko: “Continued dependence on the forest for firewood, charcoal and timber is accelerating the degradation of one of the district’s major catchment areas.
“Under the project, we want to improve nature tourism through afforestation and organic farming to increase community income and create jobs around Luwawa and Perekezi forest areas.”
Takondwa Club member Matilda Nkhata said members have embraced the call and are now raising and planting indigenous trees in degraded areas.
“Our club decided to venture into tree-planting after realising that indigenous trees will restore our vegetative cover,” she said.
M’mbelwa District Council acting director of natural resources and environment Masozi Mhoni commended the initiative, saying indigenous trees and beekeeping will ease pressure on Perekezi Forest.
The project is running with funds from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
