By Chisomo Phiri
President Lazarus Chakwera on Friday December 23,2022 successfully launched this year’s tree planting exercise at an event that took place at Mangochi Palm Forest Reserve in Mangochi.
Speaking at the launch of the exercise which is expected to run up to April next year, Chakwera said the government is committed to restoring the degraded 4.5 million hectares of forests and landscapes in the country.
The president also praised the private sector, donor partners and everyone contributing towards the restoration of the country’s depleted forests.
Natural Resources and Climate Change Minister, Eisenhower Mkaka said the government has earmarked to plant over 50 million trees during this period.
Mkaka faulted human activities such as charcoal burning and poor agriculture practices, among others, for fueling the depletion of the forests and vegetative cover.
Chakwera inaugurated the 2021/2022 national tree planting season in February this year following delayed rains.
The country targeted to plant 40 million trees last season.
