Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm) policy and advocacy manager Chifundo Dalireni says climate change has forced many people to cut down trees for survival.
Speaking on Friday during a training of wildlife club members in Salima in partnership with Tearfund and Assemblies of God Care, he said that droughts and floods affect people’s livelihood, thereby forcing people to depend on forests.
“Wesm is implementing Scaling Up Conservation of Endangered Natural Resources for Sustainable Economic Returns and Value Empowerment project in Salima, Mzimba and Rumphi so this training is part of it,” said Dalireni.
He said they are training wildlife club patrons from schools around Thuma Wildlife Reserve in Dedza and Kuti Wildlife Ranch in Salima to deal with poaching and encroachment and cut down of trees.
“Poaching and environmental degradation is a problem here in Salima and we are working with both managements of Thuma and Kuti reserves, to deal with the problem,” said Dalireni.
Assemblies of God Care project officer Innocent Kopolo said they are working together with Wesm and others to protect the environment and wildlife.
“We organised this capacity building to amplify voices against environmental degradation and poaching,” he said.
One of the participants, Joseph Mbenuka from Lungumadzi Wildlife Club near Thuma Forest, said the knowledge attained during the training will enhance his awareness capacity.
Other partners in the project are the Synod of Livingstonia Development Department, the Forestry Research Institute of Malawi and the Malawi Plant Genetic Resource Centre, funded by the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission
