Combating Deforestation and Climate Change: Mchinji District in Malawi Plants 1000 Trees to Mitigate Natural Disasters
Combating Deforestation and Climate Change: Mchinji District in Malawi Plants 1000 Trees to Mitigate Natural Disasters
In 2022 and January 2023, Mchinji was affected by heavy rains that destroyed homes, farms, and school blocks.
Malawi: Mchinji district in Malawi is combating climate change, specifically deforestation, which has caused natural disasters such as flash floods and heavy rains, writes Alinafe Dzuluwanda.
In 2022 and January 2023, Mchinji was affected by heavy rains that destroyed homes, farms, and school blocks.
Organizations such as the Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development and the Permaculture Paradise Institute have taken action by planting 1,000 tree seedlings in four different communities and schools within Mchinji in order to combat climate change.
"This organization was started in response to climate change, which the district is currently facing. We are planting these tree seedlings not only in communities but also in schools for they are also being affected by climate change, so by planting these seedlings in schools we want to create windbreaks so that school blocks should not be blown away with windstorms," said Gerald Njanje, the executive director for Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development.
The director of Permaculture Paradise Institute, Luwayo Biziwiki, added, "We want to establish numerous foot forests before the year 2025 in Mchinji. This will also be considered part of the business for the owners of the forests because it will be providing them with timber, which is more commercial these days."
The communities have welcomed the initiative as it will provide them with many benefits.
"I am very pleased to be one of those that are fighting against climate change," said Onesta Nestoli, a tree farmer from Msitu Club at Chiosya Village.
"She also added that she will take good care of the trees, for she knows she will also benefit economically from them."
The initiative also involves students from secondary schools in order to teach them the importance of planting trees and taking care of them.
"We have planted 750 tree seedlings, among which are fruit trees that will be very beneficial in the near future to students, teachers, and the community at large," said Innocent Lamukani, a teacher at Kholoni community day secondary school.
Njanje advises every family to join the fight against climate change by planting at least one-foot of forest within their premises or in deforested areas in their respective communities.
The Youth Alliance for Sustainable Development was started in 2021 but faced challenges due to a lack of funding.
However, with the support of partners such as the Permaculture Paradise Institute, Still I Rise, and CAMFED, the initiative is expected to be successful in achieving its goals.