Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm) has urged stakeholders, including corporate institutions, to consult Forestry Department officials before embarking on tree planting activities.
Wesm environmental education and communications manager Ausward Bonongwe said this at Mganthira Primary School in Mzuzu on Monday where Old Mutual Malawi Limited launched a 10 000 tree-planting exercise in the city.
is needed. | Euneas Zinyengo
He said the lack of proper management by companies has resulted in a low survival rate of planted trees currently standing at 65 percent in the Northern Region.
Bonongwe said: “A lot of companies come once tree-planting season commences but proper planning is needed before planting. For example, they need to identify proper sites and soil types that accommodate specific species of trees.
“Unfortunately, some companies defy these requirements and their trees do not survive. They should also follow the tree-planting calendar and take care of those trees.”
Old Mutual Malawi Limited marketing and corporate affairs executive Patience Chatsika said their partnership with Wesm, which provides them with expertise has resulted in the survival rate of 86 percent of the trees they have planted in the city.
Old Mutual is implementing the tree-planting exercise to restore biodiversity in the city in line with the 2024-2025 National Forestry Season agenda
