NGO supports reforestation in Nkhata Bay District

Temwa Malawi is supporting the regeneration of eight natural forests in Traditional Authority Mbwana in Nkhata Bay District to help reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Speaking on Tuesday during a tour of the district, the organisation’s country programmes director Kondwani Botha said they want to help communities improve vegetative cover to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“We started slowly, but we are making headway. We want to regenerate natural forests in at least 30 sites in upland and lakeshore areas,” he said.

Botha said they also plan to plant 30 000 tree seedlings they raised within communities where they are implementing a Carbon Balance Project.

“Next year, we plan to plant 150 000 trees. We have also changed our focus from exotic trees to indigenous trees and fruits because they are more sustainable than exotic ones,” he said.

Biriwiri Forest Regeneration Site member Gift Mlenga said Temwa trained them in forestry management.

He also said the members took advantage of the forests to venture into bee-keeping.

“Besides the community forest, each member has developed their own forests to improve the district’s vegetative cover fast,” said Mlenga.

Last December, President Lazarus Chakwera launched the 2022/23 National Tree Planting Season with a call to Malawians to adopt sustainable fuel efficient technologies to minimise overdependence on forests.

The forestry season runs from December 15 to April 15 every year.