Peter Mutharika launches forestry season
President Peter Mutharika has urged Malawians to plant trees as one way of dealing with the challenge of deforestation.
Mutharika said this Monday during the launch of the 2017/18 National Forestry Season. The function was held at Mwanza Catholic Primary School Ground in Mwanza District.
He said the restoration of vegetative cover is one way of conserving natural resources such as soil and water.
“This is why I am deliberately putting on a green shirt to underscore the point of making Malawi green and ever green like it was the case before we created all the deforestation,” Mutharika said.
Mutharika, therefore, deplored the tendency of setting bushfires, saying such practices are harmful to the environment.
The President then hailed private sector players such as Airtel Malawi for playing a positive role in assisting the government to restore the natural environment.
“I would like to commend Airtel for donating K4.5 million towards this year’s planting season. They have also provided 34,000 seedlings which will be planted across the country,” Mutharika said.
Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Aggrey Masi, hailed the President for championing the cause of restoring natural resources, particularly forests.
Masi added that the target for the forestry season is 60 million seedlings.
“As you all may be aware, this is an annual event whose aim is to emphasise the importance of natural resources and forests in general. 60 million trees have been earmarked to be planted this year alone,” Masi said, adding that Malawi was part of the Global Environmental Campaign to afforest 4.5 million hectares.
Mutharika and First Lady Gertrude planted two mbawa and tangerine trees each. The theme for this year’s planting season is ‘Restore Forests–Protect the Environment’.
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