Iponga Village Implements By-laws to Protect Natural Forest, Fines for Cutting Trees and Setting Fires
A fine of K60,000 has also been established for anyone caught starting a bushfire inside a protected area.
Malawi: Iponga Village residents in Senior Chief Mwakaboko have taken action by passing new bylaws to safeguard their natural forest, writes Victor Musongole.
The neighbourhood took action to stop further damage after noticing an increase in forest theft.
The by-laws have penalties for cutting down trees and making charcoal in the protected area, which is about 25 hectares in size, such as a fine of K30,000 and the need to replant 10 trees.
A fine of K60,000 has also been established for anyone caught starting a bushfire inside a protected area.
The initiative in Iponga is being led by Hope Ministries International, with funding provided by Terraformation Hawaii in the United States of America.
The Karonga district has endured severe flooding for the past eight years as a result of overflowed rivers, which experts attribute to deforestation and the effects of climate change.
According to a section of the Karonga District Social Economic Profile for 2017–2022, which was posted on globaluploadswebflow.com, "The major climatic hazards that threaten the forestry sector are extended droughts, which cause land degradation and loss of soil fertility, as well as forest fires, which result in the loss of seedlings."
The by-laws, according to Welani Mbaso, the projects coordinator for Hope Ministries International, will aid in promoting forest cover in the region because they have given people the power to take personal responsibility for the preservation of natural resources.
“The community now has the authority to safeguard its natural resources thanks to the creation of these bylaws. Chiefs are included in the Natural Resources Management Committees, which will help them take the initiative to encourage their people to keep an eye on their natural resources,” said Mbaso.
The local Natural Resources Management Committee's chair, Keston Kayuni, is optimistic that the bylaws will help to protect natural resources because people won't want to pay the K30,000 fine.
"We'll make sure everyone abides by the rules we've established here. We hope that going forward, anyone found cutting down trees will have to pay K30,000 and replant trees. Previously, our people would burn charcoal and sell it to Tanzania, our neighbour,” said Kayuni.
Acting Principal GVH Mwakaboko also supports the by-laws and plans to ensure that they are followed.
The community has worked hard to restore the forest cover in the area, which has been dwindling over the past ten years as a result of the production of charcoal and timber, according to Kingston Tembo, Karonga District Assistant Forestry Officer.
Tembo said, "What the community has done is very commendable and will help restore the forest cover in the area which is close to Tanzania as charcoal was being exported using uncharted routes making it difficult to trace."
Mathews Malata, an environmental activist, also praised the village's strategy and agreed that it was the only means of safeguarding and sustainably managing the nation's natural resources.
During the upcoming tree planting season, the Karonga district also intends to plant 1.5 million trees.