WNRCRT Tends to Trees Planted Along Lingadzi River
The exercise was financially supported by the Australian Embassy under the Harare Direct Aid Program.
LILONGWE, Malawi— The Wildlife and Natural Resources Conservation and Rehabilitation Trust (WNRCRT) joined hands with the Lilongwe City Council, United Religious Initiatives, and Chinsapo Youth Network on Saturday to care for trees planted along the Lingadzi River catchment area during the 2023/2024 planting season, writes Andrew Ndhlovu.
The groups conducted post-planting activities including weeding, mulching, and creating fire breaks for the 6,000 trees planted in January aimed at conserving the river system facing environmental degradation.
WNRCRT's Director of Natural Resources Conservation, Emmanuel Phiri, said 4,094 of the planted trees survived, representing a 68.2% survival rate despite a difficult rainy season.
"We have come here to appreciate how the trees we planted in January are doing and we thought it wise to come with the stakeholders so that we can take care of the trees that have survived," Phiri said.
"We also think about replacing those that have died and extending the area to be covered."
Phiri encouraged others to not just plant trees but follow up on their survival and protection.
Lilongwe City Council Chief Environmental Officer Godfrey Kalenga thanked WNRCRT for the rare support in caring for planted trees, which will aid restoration efforts along the river.
"We are thankful for the support from WNRCRT towards our efforts to restore the degrading ecosystem by taking care of the planted trees," Kalenga said.
Local resident Maria Njiwa, who took part, said she's happy to see the trees growing healthily and hopes the vegetative cover is restored.
She urged the community to stop environmentally harmful activities like deforestation, sand mining and cultivating along riverbanks.
The exercise was financially supported by the Australian Embassy under the Harare Direct Aid Program.