Malawi MP Launches Tree Initiative to Combat Annual Flood Damage
District Assistant Forestry Officer Alefa Kaiyatsa said officials have raised 2.4 million trees toward their 3 million target for this planting season.
ZOMBA, Malawi —A member of parliament launched a tree-planting campaign Friday to reduce flood damage in eastern Malawi's flood-prone Zomba district, writes Peter Davieson.
Mark Botoman, MP for Zomba Chisi, urged local chiefs to enforce environmental protection bylaws during the initiative's launch in Sub Traditional Authority Lamusi.
"We face floods every year due to water from the Phalombe River, so we believe that if we can have enough trees, it will ease floods here," Botoman said.
District Assistant Forestry Officer Alefa Kaiyatsa said officials have raised 2.4 million trees toward their 3 million target for this planting season.
Last year's survival rate dropped to 70% due to dry conditions.
"This year's rain has started well; therefore, we are encouraging people to plant trees around their areas before the rain disappears," Kaiyatsa said.
The annual flooding from the Phalombe River has regularly impacted communities in the constituency.
Tree planting programmes should be decentralized and be accepted and owned by the locals so that once planted, trees should be well taken care of until the mature