By Chisomo Phiri
Vice President Dr. Michael Bizwick Usi has called for urgent action to address environmental challenges facing the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Forest Plantation Fee Structure Report and Public-Private Engagement on Forest Plantations at Ufulu Gardens in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Usi stressed that current policies are failing to meet community needs, resulting in a meager 0.1% contribution to Malawi’s GDP from the forestry sector.
He urged stronger government involvement and private sector collaboration to reverse this trend.
“Our forests are a treasure to our economy, growth, and development. As a nation, there is a need for action to protect our forests,” said Usi.
Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Yusuf Mkungula, highlighted the low contribution of planted forests to the economy and the challenges in adjusting pricing policies due to political resistance.
Executive Director for Mwapata Institute, William Chadza, expressed concern over the sector’s challenges, including lower budget allocation and managing plantations.
He emphasized the importance of research in enabling informed decisions to increase the forestry sector’s contribution to Malawi’s social and economic development.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Pamela Fessenden emphasized the importance of investing in well-managed forest plantations, not just for economic strategy but also for sustainable development and Malawi’s future prosperity.
She acknowledged the challenges facing the sector, including unplanted land, inconsistent management, and limited resources, and noted USAID’s support in addressing these issues.
