By Chisomo Phiri
In an effort to conserve the environment, environmental activist and co-founder at Save the Future Foundation Maloto Chimkombero has embarked on an initiative called Green Homes Initiative which aims at donating and planting fruit trees in people’s homes of Lilongwe city and the surrounding areas.
Speaking in an interview, Chimkombero said, he believes that the initiative will encourage malawians most especially those who live in urban areas to plant fruit trees in their homes, thereby, promoting environmental conservation.
” We believe that tree planting should be done at a family level so that so that we instill the spirit of responsibility in tree management among the youth and children. The other reason is that in urban areas, people buy plots not for forest creation but building houses, so the best way is to encourage them to plant fruit trees around their houses,” said Chimkombero.
Chimkombero said through the initiative, they are planning to plant 10,000 fruit trees within Lilongwe.
” Through this initiative, we are planning to plant 10,000 fruit trees within Lilongwe city and the surrounding areas . We are also planning to construct a village which will have all kind of nature and a school where people will be trained environmental management skills and knowledge,” he said.
The environmental activist commended government through Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources for its effort in promoting environmental conservation through a number of projects. He said despite these achievementst, there are still other issues that government has to look into so that environment can be fully protected.
” We are very thankful to the government through Minister of Forestry, Honourable Nancy Tembo.The lady is doing her best in protecting the environment conservation. But still, there are other issues that government has to look into so that environment can be fully protected.
” For instance, the issue of thick plastics ban has to be solved as soon as possible. Government has to kill charcoal market by investing in clean energy technologies. Timber Millers have to be investigated on how they are operating, we are losing more trees because of their greedy. And councils should improve on waste management issue, it is high time they construct waste dumping sites,” said Chimkombero.
He however, urged fellow youths in the country to be united and take care of environment in their respective communities.
” Let me urge my fellow youths to be united and take care of our environment. We are leaders of today and tomorrow. We need good water, healthy soils, trees and wildlife for our life to be productive. Environment is our future. Let’s love it,” he urged.
Save the Future Foundation is a developmental organization whose mission is to create sustainable opportunities for both current and future generations. It focuses on environmental management, climate change mitigation, building schools, providing safe water and youth empowerment.
Apart from being a co-founder at Save the Future Foundation and environmental activist, Chimkombero is also a Jazz musician who advocates for environmental practices and polices through singing.
